{"id":489123,"date":"2026-04-23T09:35:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=489123"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:22:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:22:54","slug":"nhl-predictions-round-1-game-3-stanley-cup-playoffs-ottawa-senators-carolina-hurricanes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2026\/04\/23\/nhl-predictions-round-1-game-3-stanley-cup-playoffs-ottawa-senators-carolina-hurricanes\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: Round 1, Game 3, Stanley Cup Playoffs Ottawa Senators vs Carolina Hurricanes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Ottawa Senators<\/a> at home against the Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. This is NHL Predictions with us here at Last Word On Hockey<\/em>. This is where we break down key storylines, statistics, and analysis to try to decipher how the games will play out. With Carolina up two-games-to-none, this is almost as much of a must-win as you can have, without physically having one. Going down 3-0, would be a near death scenario, especially to the dynamic Hurricanes. Let’s find out if we think the Sens can do it.<\/p>\n

NHL Predictions with Senators and Hurricanes<\/h2>\n

Season Series: <\/strong>In the regular season, Carolina won the season series 2-1-0, but only outscored Ottawa 11-10 in those three meetings of strong teams. Now, in this postseason, it is 2-0 Carolina, with the total score at 5-2.<\/p>\n

Puck Drop:<\/strong> 7<\/span>:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) || 4:30 p.m. Pacific<\/p>\n

How to Watch<\/a>: TBS, HBO MAX, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS, FDSNSO<\/span><\/h3>\n

Location:<\/strong> From the cozy confines of the Canadian Tire Centre, live from Kanata, Ontario.<\/p>\n

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Alex Cave\/ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n

Carolina being up 2-0 is bleak, but as they say, you’re not in trouble until you lose on home ice<\/em>. So for the Sen fans, let’s say that. Furthermore, Carolina remains very healthy throughout their lineup. It is one way they can win the matchup game, and keep great rhythm throughout the lineup.<\/p>\n

Tyler Kleven<\/a> is getting so close he can probably taste it. Yesterday at Sens practice, he was seen sporting a full-visor on his lid. Head coach Travis Green<\/a> and company know the urgency of this series right now, and want as full of a lineup as we could have. Our update from today is that both Cameron Crotty and Kleven draw in. That means Lassi Thomson and Dennis Gilbert won’t be a part of the lineup this evening. Artem Zub remains out.<\/p>\n

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Tyler Kleven is playing tonight.<\/p>\n

Also, Cameron Crotty draws in the lineup.<\/p>\n

— Alex Adams (@alexadamsBTP_) April 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n