Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Thursday, April 23, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 23, 2026, 7:08pm

With two well rounded units capable of making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals facing off against each other, it’s no surprise game two between the Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators turned into a nail biter. Unfortunately for the Senators, they were unable to even up the series, losing in double overtime.

While their loss was disheartening, the Senators can hang their hat on knowing they were able to match the Hurricanes output on both sides of the ice, nearly tying them in Expected Goals 4.45-4.80. With negative regression looming over Frederik Andersen, expect the Senators to get back in the win column on their own home ice.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Analysis

After a slow start to the year, the Ottawa Senators were able to give them the production they need to be a well rounded contender, squeaking into the top-10 in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Brady Tkachuk has played a major role in their Senators resurgence this season, averaging 0.50 Expected Goals and 3.68 Shots on Goal per game.

On the other side of the ice, the Senators back line have been in a tier of their own, leading the league in Expected Goals Against in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. With their back line lowering the quality of their opponents Shots on Goal, Linus Ullmark has been able to consistently wall them off, averaging 2.73 Goals Against per game.

Down 0-2, the Sens are in desperate need of securing the win in order to avoid playing in an elimination game. While a matchup against the Hurricanes back line looks daunting on paper, it’s worth noting they have been able to break through their suffocating coverage, generating nearly 5.00 Expected Goals in game two.

Frederik Andersen has also been a revelation in the Hurricanes net in their first two games of the series, averaging just 0.78 Goals Against per game. An unsustainable level of play when factoring in how he performed throughout the regular season, ending his year averaging over three Goals Against per game and a .874 Save Percentage.

With Ottawa’s pressure starting to overwhelm the Hurricanes, expect Andersen to fall hard back down to reality, increasing the Senators chances of pulling away on the scoreboard. Especially with their own back line smothering the Hurricanes, reducing the amount of negative variance in their favor, giving them the edge they need to secure the win in game three.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Senators ML (-120)
Score Prediction: Senators 4, Hurricanes 2

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Game Odds

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Game Information

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Network: TBS
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Canadian Tire Centre – 6 goals per game; 19-21-1 O/U
Series Score: Hurricanes 2-0

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Betting Resources

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators Key Players

Carolina Hurricanes

Seth Jarvis – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 2 Shots on Goal)
Sebastian Aho – Last Game: (1 Goal, 0 Assists, 4 Shots on Goal)
Frederik Andersen – Last Game: (4 Goals Against, 15 Saves)

Ottawa Senators

Brady Tkachuk – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 6 Shots on Goal)
Tim Stutzle – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 2 Shots on Goal)
Linus Ullmark – Last Game: (3 Goals Against, 46 Saves)

Photo Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.