Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes: NHL Best Bets (5/20)

The Eastern Conference Finals are set and we are in for a thrilling series. Tonight, these two teams battle in Game 1, as the Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers.

Florida is in their third straight Eastern Conference Finals, and have not lost the past two years. Back in 2023, they actually swept the Hurricanes in the ECF before losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup. However last season, they took down the New York Rangers and went on to beat the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. Now they look to go to their third straight Stanley Cup Finals, and look to repeat as Champions.

As for the Hurricanes, they have had tons of playoff success but can't get over the hump. They've advanced out of the first round in five straight seasons, but again, were swept by Florida in 2023, their last time in the Eastern Conference Finals. Carolina has not seen the Stanley Cup Finals since they won the whole thing back in 2006, but can this team finally get there this year?

In three games this regular season, we saw the Panthers win the first two in dominating fashion. The Ice Cats took down the Hurricanes in Raleigh 6-3 back in November, and then shut them out in Sunrise the very next night, 6-0. However, later in the season, Carolina got their revenge on the road, beating Florida 3-1 in early January. It's been over four months since these teams have faced off, how will Game 1 go tonight?

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Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Eastern Conference Finals

Matchup Information – Panthers vs. Hurricanes

• Venue & Location: Lenovo Center (Raleigh, NC)
• Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
• Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. Eastern
• Broadcast: TNT/truTV

Betting Odds

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Puck Line

• Panthers +1.5 (-248)
• Hurricanes -1.5 (+205)

Moneyline

• Panthers +108
• Hurricanes -121

Total

• Over 5.5 (+113)
• Under 5.5 (-129)

While these teams are both in the Eastern Conference, they aren't too familiar with each other. For starters, the Hurricanes haven't seen the Ice Cats with Brad Marchand in the lineup, who amplifies their offensive firepower. All postseason, both of these teams have done a great job of peppering the net, limiting their opponent's chances, and have taken advantage of the power play. I enjoy betting on teams who do those three things, and now I've got some decisions to make on this series.

For Game 1, I'll try and get in and out with a play on the first period total.

Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Best Bets

Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction: Hurricanes Win, Under 5.5

Best Bets: 1P Under 1.5 (-125) BetOnline

To be honest, I like the full game under as well. Even thought the Ice Cats have netted six by themselves in 2/3 contests against Carolina this year, the postseason is much different. Given that these teams have not seen each other for a while, I expect them to play fairly conservative for the first 20 minutes and simply feel each other out.

The past two meetings between these two teams have stayed under this number in the first period. Sergei Bobrovsky ranks 4th amongst NHL goalies this postseason in goals against average, allowing just 2.31 per game. However, Frederik Anderson of the Canes leads the league, at 1.36. He's saving nearly 94% of shots faced, while Bobrovsky saves over 90% as well.

Ultimately we have two very good tenders, and all playoffs these teams have done a great job of containing their opponent's high danger chances. I expect them both to be very focused defensively in Game 1 tonight, especially in the first period. Per usual, I have sprinkled on the under 0.5 (+360) as well, hoping we get a scoreless first like we did the second time these teams played.

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