If we’ve learned anything from the start of the Eastern Conference Finals – and the entire NBA and NHL playoffs, we’ve learned things like the Florida Panthers standings before the playoffs don’t matter. We’ve learned that getting into the playoffs and playing as a team matters more.
Improbably, the eighth-seeded Florida Panthers can match the eighth-seeded Miami Heat by taking a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, nothing about recent Carolina Hurricanes games suggests they’ll roll over and let the Panthers push them to the brink of elimination.
We’ll review the stats, trends, and odds before making our Hurricanes vs Panthers prediction for game three of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Hurricanes vs. Panthers Odds
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Information
Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers
Location of the game: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL.
Date & Time: Monday, May 22nd. 8:00 PM ET.
How to watch: TNT, Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS
Recent Scores
The NHL schedule for playoffs might have another gap between rounds if the Florida Panthers continue their run.
The first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals went to overtime, with Panthers emerging legend Matthew Tkachuk scoring both overtime game-winning goals, including his soon-to-be legendary “let’s go home” walk-off celly after the Panthers won game two 2-1.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Analysis
The five-on-five playoff NHL team stats slightly favor the Hurricanes, who are averaging 3.31 goals per game while giving up 2.54 per game. The Panthers are averaging 3.21 goals per game while giving up 2.86 per game.
The Canes have the defensive special team’s advantage, with the powerplay converting at 19.6%, while the penalty kill is operating at 88.9%. The Panthers’ powerplay is converting at 25.7%, while the penalty kill is operating at 68.1%,
Matthew Tkachuk is among the Conn Smythe Trophy favorites and leads the Panthers in NHL player stats with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).
Sebastian Aho leads the Canes with 12 points (five goals, seven assists).
The Canes will either start Frederik Andersen (21-11-1, 2.48 GAA, .903SV%) or Anti Raanta (19-3-3, 2.23 GAA, .910 SV%) in game three, something likely to be determined closer to puck drop. We expect Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%) to be back in net for the Panthers.
Odds Breakdown
A significant component of our Hurricanes vs Panthers prediction is reviewing the NHL odds, trends, and betting records.
Carolina Hurricanes
While the Carolina Hurricanes have been atop the NHL Stanley Cup odds since before the regular season started, the Canes enter game three as the slight underdog, listed between even and -110 odds.
The Canes (+1.5) have a 38-57 ats record. The underdog is 4-1 in the last five meetings, while the road team is 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head matchups.
The total goals line is set to 5.5, with the over listed between -107 and -114 and the under between -106 and -118. Carolina has a 41-50-4 over/under record.
Florida Panthers
Having won the first two games on the road as the underdog, the Florida Panthers are the slight home favorite, listed between -110 and -120. The Cats have a 7-2 record in the last nine matchups with the Canes.
The Panthers (-1.5) have a 44-52 ats record.
Florida has a 48-40-8 over/under record. Key to our NHL predictions is that the under is 4-1 in the head-to-head matchups this season.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Betting Pick and Prediction
Pick 1: Our first Hurricanes vs Panthers prediction is to take the under, considering the trends and that the first two games of this series have ended in overtime, both hitting the under.
Pick 2: The second of our NHL predictions is that the Hurricanes should win a game or two in this series, but there’s a playoff vibe in Florida, leading us to take the Panthers to win on the moneyline and the Canes to cover the spread.
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