If you’re wondering how to catch tonight’s pivotal Metropolitan Division clash, you’ve come to the right place. On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the Carolina Hurricanes travel to Nationwide Arena to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. With playoff positioning firmly on the line in the closing stretch of the NHL season, this is a game hockey fans won’t want to miss.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, including television and streaming options across North America.
TV Channels and Streaming in the USA and Canada
Puck Drop Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
How to Watch in the USA: Tonight’s matchup is an exclusive national broadcast. Fans in the United States can stream the game live on ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu. Because this is part of ESPN’s exclusive streaming package, it will not be available on traditional regional cable networks like Bally Sports/FanDuel Sports Network for this specific broadcast.
How to Watch in Canada: Canadian viewers can catch all the action streaming live on Sportsnet+ Premium.
Regional Blackouts Explained
Usually, watching your local NHL team can be frustrating due to regional blackouts. Blackout restrictions are put in place by the NHL to protect local regional sports networks (RSNs) that pay millions for exclusive local broadcast rights. If you live in the Hurricanes’ or Blue Jackets’ local TV market, streaming services like ESPN+ typically block you from watching the game live unless you have a cable package with the local RSN.
However, because tonight’s game is an exclusive national broadcast on ESPN+/Hulu, there are no regional blackouts for this specific game. Fans in both Raleigh and Columbus can stream it directly on the ESPN/Disney platforms without restriction!
Team Stats, Injuries, and Betting Odds
Both teams come into this matchup looking to rebound. The Carolina Hurricanes currently sit atop the Metropolitan Division with an impressive 46-21-6 record (98 points). However, they are coming off a tight 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Hurricanes’ offense is driven by Sebastian Aho (74 points) and top goal-scorer Seth Jarvis (30 goals). Carolina boasts a remarkably healthy roster heading into tonight.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hold a 38-24-12 record (88 points) and have lost three games in a row, most recently dropping a 4-3 decision to the Boston Bruins. They are led by veteran Charlie Coyle (56 points) and young phenom Adam Fantilli (54 points). Columbus is dealing with a brutal string of injuries right now; they will be without Dmitri Voronkov (upper body), Mathieu Olivier (upper body), Damon Severson (upper body), and Brendan Smith (knee).
Betting Odds & Game Prediction
The current betting odds have Carolina as heavy road favorites at -142 on the moneyline, with the Over/Under set at 6.5 goals. Personally, I think there is a ton of value in fading a high-scoring affair tonight. I’ve watched Carolina’s suffocating defense frustrate opponents all year—they currently allow a league-best 23.9 shots per game. Couple that with a Columbus team that has dropped three straight and is missing key physical forwards to injuries, and I strongly lean toward the under.
My personal insight is to lock in the Under 6.5, as I’m predicting a 3-2 grind-it-out victory for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Whether you are just finding the Carolina Hurricanes on TV today or checking ahead on the Columbus Blue Jackets TV schedule, we’ve got you covered for the rest of the year. Be sure to check out the updated NHL point leaders 2025-26 season standings, and don’t forget to enter our online hockey pool for cash prizes on my website.
The post How to Watch Carolina Hurricanes vs Columbus Blue Jackets (Mar 31) appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
