NHL ECF: Panthers vs Hurricanes Predictions

**SBR Andy** · 05-20-25, 10:20 AM

NHL Eastern Conference Final predictions from SBR's Gary Pearson:

Panthers to Win Series (-115 Caesars)

"The Hurricanes have been knocking on the Stanley Cup Final door for a few years. And if it were against anyone else, I'd recommend backing them to finally get over the hump. But we're not discussing anyone else; we're talking about the defending Cup champions, a team with more depth than an Academy Award Best Picture winner.

They have a core of players built for postseason success, including Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, and Carter Verhaeghe. While the Hurricanes are an elite defensive outfit, they don't have the offensive prowess of a Panthers team that can score from any position regardless of which line is on the ice.

And new additions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones have arguably been the team's most influential players, with the former tied for the most points (12) with Eetu Luostarinen."

Panthers vs Hurricanes series best bets:

Panthers win series 4-2 (+420 FanDuel)
Exact number of games: 6 (+195 FanDuel)
Correct score after 3 games: Panthers 2-1 (+130 FanDuel)

**SBR Andy** · 05-20-25, 12:36 PM

Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 1 prediction from SBR's Gary Pearson:

Panthers ML (+110 bet365)

"That old chestnut of rest vs. rust could be decisive for Tuesday's Game 1. Since Thursday, the Hurricanes have watched the events unfold between the Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

That's five days' rest compared to the Panthers' one. I'm going with the assertion that the Panthers will benefit more as they should be flying, still on a high from beating Toronto again in a relatively stress-free yet dominant fashion.

The Hurricanes have the only remaining unbeaten home record (5-0) but haven't faced a team like the Panthers, who play at a torrid pace with heightened aggressiveness. It could take Carolina a period or two to adjust. Plus, the Panthers boast the best away record (5-2).

Sergei Bobrovsky is back to his elite best, allowing four goals in the previous four games, with a .957 save percentage and 1.01 goals-against average. While Frederik Andersen - among the Conn Smythe Trophy odds favorites - is the best goaltender in the playoffs thus far, Bobrovsky takes that mantle over the aforementioned stretch.

The Panthers' netminder won't have time to come out of his zen zone, while five days off may impact Andersen's timing and focus, if only briefly."

**Headsterx** · 05-20-25, 06:39 PM

Hell yeah! Panthers winning this series and making it a sweep! Bringing out the broom not only for the sweep but for the rats!

**mjsuax13** · 05-20-25, 07:06 PM

Panthers in 6

**SBR Andy** · 05-21-25, 07:27 AM

The Panthers pick up right where they left off, winning 5-2 in Game 1.

Updated series odds via DraftKings: Panthers -240 / Hurricanes +200

**Optional** · 05-26-25, 03:25 PM

Gary Pearson writes; It's been a commanding start to the Eastern Conference Final for the Florida Panthers against the Carolina Hurricanes. We offer our Hurricanes vs. Panthers prediction and NHL picks for today's Game 4 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. (8 p.m. ET, TNT), as the Panthers have the Canes on the ropes with a 3-0 series lead.

Panthers vs. Hurricanes expert picks for Game 4

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✅ Against the spread pick: Panthers -1.5 (+150 via bet365) ⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Panthers 3-way ML (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Over 5.5 goals (+100 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Game 4 prediction & best bet

Score prediction: Panthers 4, Hurricanes 2

There's no escaping a fourth straight Eastern Conference Final defeat for the Hurricanes. The question is whether they will suffer a fourth successive sweep at this stage of the playoffs, and the second in a row to the Panthers.

If Carolina loses on Monday, it will be the team's 16th straight Eastern Conference Final defeat since 2009. At this point, I see no alternative.

Betting action and odds analysis

The general public seems on side with the Panthers completing the sweep tonight, as 74% of the wagers have come through on the home side. Despite this, we've not seen a huge move from the oddsmakers on the moneyline: Florida opened as a -175 favorite, and is trading between -175 and -182 just hours ahead of puck drop.

The public is also in sync in leaning toward the Over 5.5, with 70% of the wagers coming in on that side. Similar to the moneyline, we're not seeing a major reaction from sportsbooks who opened at -105 and are all still almost universally trading at -105.

**Optional** · 05-28-25, 05:01 PM

Connor Cooper writes; Can the Hurricanes stave off elimination for a second straight game? We have a trio of props on players who should prove pivotal.

After living to play another day with a Game 4 win, the Carolina Hurricanes are nearly even odds to extend the Eastern Conference Final with another victory over the Florida Panthers tonight. Puck drop from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., is at 8 p.m. ET (TNT).

As we make our Panthers vs. Hurricanes player props as part of our NHL picks, we look at the role Logan Stankoven needs to play to keep the series alive and offer two plus-money picks.

Best Panthers vs. Hurricanes player prop bets: Game 5

✅ Jaccob Slavin Over 1.5 shots (+130 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Logan Stankoven Over 1.5 shots (-142 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Brad Marchand Over 0.5 points (+125 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

Jaccob Slavin Over 1.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐

Slavin isn’t a high-volume shooter, but he’s been firing the puck a lot in this series, attempting 21 shots through the first four games. Seven of those have been on goal, and he’s hit the net at least once in 13 of his last 15 games.

The bigger reason I like his Over 1.5 shots in Game 5, however, is how much he’s on the ice. Slavin saw nearly 28 minutes of playing time in Game 4, the most he’s played in a non-overtime game this season.

Carolina tilted the ice in Slavin’s minutes on Monday, racking up eight high-danger chances while allowing only one. With several defensemen banged up and the Hurricanes still facing elimination, expect head coach Rod Brind’Amour to ride his number one blueliner once again tonight.

Best odds: +130 via bet365

Logan Stankoven Over 1.5 shots ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Both Brind’Amour and captain Jordan Staal have called Stankoven the best Hurricanes player in this series, and with good reason. The sophomore forward has drawn a point on each of Carolina’s three non-empty net goals in the last two games, and he’s attempted 16 shots in the series.

With goals in back-to-back contests, Stankoven should be looking to shoot every chance he gets in Game 5. That includes on the powerplay, where Stankoven’s 2:15 of icetime on Monday was the second-most on the team.

Best odds: -142 via DraftKings

Brad Marchand Over 0.5 points ⭐⭐⭐

Marchand has been quiet offensively in this series, drawing just one point in the first four games, but this is the time when he tends to shine. His 24 points in close-out games are the fourth-most among active skaters, stats he padded with a three-point effort in Game 7 last round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marchand could also get more opportunities if Sam Reinhart remains out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury. Marchand played more than four minutes on the powerplay in Game 4 and also saw time on a top-two line with Aleksander Barkov and Evan Rodrigues.

Almost all of our best sports betting sites are offering nearly even money on Marchand Over 1.5 shots, which is another option you might want to consider. Given Marchand’s knack for rising to the occasion, I’ll take a shot at bet365’s +125 price on him to record at least one point in Game 5.

Best odds: +125 via bet365

Game 5 opening odds

Opening odds via BetMGM.

Puck line: Panthers -1.5 (+242) | Hurricanes +1.5 (-294)
Moneyline: Panthers -111 | Hurricanes -101
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (+107) | Under 5.5 (-122)