Hurricanes host New Jersey Devils: Preview, How to Watch, Game Thread

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 26: Brandon Bussi #32 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Andrei Svechnikov #37 after a 5-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Lenovo Center on February 26, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images After a rare three-day break, the Carolina Hurricanes return to action this afternoon as they host the New Jersey Devils at Lenovo Center. The game offers a rare break for the Hurricanes in the midst of a grueling schedule that has them playing teams still vying for a playoff spot.

Five of their last six were against teams either in or fighting for a playoff spot, and after the final horn tonight their next six will also be against playoff contenders, although four of those will be inside Lenovo. New Jersey, though, is not in a playoff position. It’s quite the fall for the Devils as they started of the season so hot.

After they lost at the Hurricanes’ Opening Night, they reeled off eight straight to charge to the top of the division It was a big reason the start was actually broadcast on national TV as the Devils and the Canes were expected to fight each other for the Metropolitan lead. The Canes held up their end of the bargain, but New Jersey couldn’t sustain the success. The injury bug took over for the Devils and over the course of the season their record saw them sink further down in the standings.

Jack Hughes missed some significant time before the Olympics—his tooth is fixed, by the way, Dougie Hamilton had fallen so far out of favor it was thought he would be traded at the deadline, and once again former Hurricane Brett Pesce is injured and on the shelf likely for the rest of the season, as is the other former Cane Stefan Noesen. The inconsistency has hurt goalie Jacob Markstrom who is well under . 900 in save percentage.