Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction and Odds (Carolina Favored in Marquee Matchup)
Two of the top teams in the NHL will face-off in a potential preview of an Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday night when the Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers.
The two teams currently sit in second place in their respective divisions, but they have games in hand over their division leaders. Surprisingly, both squads enter the matchup off a loss. The Panthers fell 5-2 to the Rangers in their final game before the All-Star break, and the Hurricanes lost 3-2 to the Wild this past Saturday night.
Let's take a look at the odds via WynnBET for tonight's marquee matchup.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Odds and Total
Moneyline:
- Panthers +105
- Hurricanes -125
Puck line:
- Panthers +1.5 (-240)
- Hurricanes -1.5 (+200)
Total:
- 6.5 (Over -110/Under -110
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Betting Trends
- The OVER is 5-1 in the Panthers' last six games.,
- Hurricanes are 14-6 in last 20 games vs. Panthers.
- Hurricanes are 5-0 in last five home games.
- The OVER is 4-2 in last six meetings between these teams.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction and Pick
The Florida Panthers are the best offensive team in the NHL, and if you're looking for an exciting game to watch, Panthers' games will always deliver. With that being said, they've struggled on their own side of the ice at times, and that's going to cost them when they play against the best teams in the NHL.
The Hurricanes are a more complete team, so I'm going to back them as home favorites tonight. The Panthers rank 23rd in the league in high danger scoring chances against over their last 25 games, allowing 12.44 per 60 minutes. They're also 17th in expected goals against during that stretch at 2.91.
Carolina will be able to hang with them offensively, but they have the defensive edge. For that reason, I think they're the smart bet at -125.
Pick: Hurricanes -125
Iain is 31-27-1 (+2.26 units) with his NHL picks in 2022. Check out his detailed record here.