The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes play Game 1 of their series this Thursday. Check out our preview of this Panthers vs Hurricanes matchup in the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are more hockey previews to read here at TopBet, so feel free to look around and make bets once you’re ready.
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Betting Preview for the Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes 2023 Playoffs Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals on May 18, 2023
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh
When: Thursday, May 18, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
Line: Florida Panthers (+1.5) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-1.5) – view all 2021-22 NHL lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Florida Panthers (+1.5)
Regular Season Record: 42-32-8
The Panthers are still alive and kicking. They proved that their monster first-round upset of the Boston Bruins was not a fluke as they went to the second round and took out the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games. Florida is getting plenty of help from the netminding of Sergei Bobrovsky, who carries a 7-2 record with a 2.82 GAA and a .918 saves percentage so far in the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Offensively, Florida is leaning on the likes of Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe, who each have at least five goals in the postseason.
The Panthers are 10-1 in their last 11 road games. They have also won seven of their last eight games overall.
Betting on the Carolina Hurricanes (-1.5)
Regular Season Record: 52-21-9
Just like the Panthers, the Hurricanes needed just five games to get past the second round, as they eliminated the New Jersey Devils. Before that, Carolina knocked the New York Islanders out in the first round in six games. Carolina is a strong puck-possession team. It is averaging 33.3 shots per game in the playoffs and boasts of a 5-vs-5 53.6 SAT%. Conversely, the Panthers are just posting a 5-vs-5 48.9 SAT%. Sebastian Aho and Jordan Martinook are leading the offense for the Hurricanes, as they each have 10 points in the playoffs. Defensively, Carolina is third overall among all teams that made the playoffs with just 2.55 goals allowed per contest.
The Hurricanes are 5-1 in their last six games versus a team with a winning record. They are also 42-15 in their last 57 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Hurricanes win, 3-1.
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