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Edgar Chaput
Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Game 2 Prediction, NHL Odds
One hopes the coaches didn’t push their squads too harshly on Friday because Game 1 of this Eastern Conference final was one for the ages. The 3-2 4OT win for Florida Panthers was the sixth-longest game in NHL history. It was 13 seconds away taking up seven full periods. Let’s hope the sides got some rest before Game 2.
Speaking of the second tilt, the NHL odds favour the Canes, who are perched on a -150 price tag on the moneyline and +174 on the puckline.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
The Game 1 result has flipped the script entirely on the series. Where the Hurricanes were -128 favourite to win it entering the first bout, they now stand as underdogs at +141. Conversely, Florida is the -159 favourite to win the conference.
This is the single greatest Florida Panthers playoff run since 1996 when they made it to the Stanley Cup final. The club was bounced out of the first round in 1997, 2000, 2012, 2016, a shorted bubble series in 2020, and 2021, and in the second round last year. A lot of pain and suffering has led to this moment and the players – and their fans – are enjoying every minute of it. Not since Game 7 of the first round against Boston has the over connected, making it six in a row for the under.
The under how now cashed in the last two Hurricanes contests, whereas previously the over had connected in four consecutive matches. Fun fact, although less so for Carolina fans, the Canes have not won a conference final game since 2006. They were swept by Pittsburgh in 2009, then by Boston in 2019, and are down 1-0 this year. Surely that streak will end, no?
Florida Panthers
Whatever an opposing goalie does, apparently Sergei Bobrovsky can do better. That’s not to say that other players haven’t been key components to this magical postseason run, but where would the Panthers be without Bobrovksy?
He stopped 63 of the 65 shots he faced on Thursday night and Friday morning. Granted, as the game wore on the play got a little sloppier, but even in the third and fourth overtime sessions he had to come up big. Florida definitely gave the impression that they’re the tougher team, outhitting Carolina 46 to 35. A lingering concern for the team is the penalty kill. The Hurricanes may have only scored twice in Game 1, but both were on the man advantage. Furthermore, the Panthers are killing only 65.9 per cent of their penalties this postseason.
Down 1-0 entering the second period didn’t deter them, nor has much in these playoffs so far. Aleksander Barkov (third) and legend in the making Carter Verhaeghe (sixth) scored twice in the second period to claim a 2-1. It would be Matthew Tkachuk to the rescue at 19:47 of the fourth overtime period with a wrist shot that beat Frederik Andersen on the high left side.
Carolina Hurricanes
Bouncing back from a game like that won’t be easy. One might thing that the Panthers are playing with house money given their 1-0 series lead with games coming up at home, but much like another Floridian squad have a terrific spring, the NBA’s Miami Heat, the Panthers never seem satisfied.
As such, Carolina will have to be ready for anything in Game 2. The first contest started well enough. Scoring very late in a period typically batters another club’s momentum, and that’s just what the Canes did when Seth Jarvis (firth) ripped a one-timer on the power play with only 12 seconds left in the opening frame. But Carolina’s attack was either stifled by Florida’s defence or its goaltender, and they needed to fight back from a 2-1 third period deficit. Stefan Noesen (fourth) saved blushes at 3:37 into the third stanza, but that was it for Hurricanes offence on the night. Scoring only twice on 65 shots might get into a team’s head, but Carolina is a great team. They just need to keep shooting.
FLA
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