Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Finals Betting Preview: Series Odds and Player Props

Following the Florida Panthers 3-2 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 on Friday, the Eastern Conference Finals are now set.

The Panthers will meet the Carolina Hurricanes, who defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games.

The series opens on Thursday with Game 1 in Carolina.

Here's how the Hurricanes and Panthers stack up heading into the Eastern Conference Finals.

All NHL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Finals: Moneyline, Total Goals, Total Games, and Correct Score

• Series Moneyline:
  • Hurricanes: -145
  • Panthers: +120
• Total Goals: 34.5
• Total Games:
  • 4: +600
  • 5: +260
  • 6: +195
  • 7: +195
• Correct Score:
  • Hurricanes 4-0: +1000
  • Hurricanes 4-1: +470
  • Hurricanes 4-2: +460
  • Hurricanes 4-3: +400
  • Panthers 4-0: +1600
  • Panthers 4-1: +800
  • Panthers 4-2: +500
  • Panthers 4-3: +550

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Finals Player Props: Leading Goal Scorer

• Leading Goal Scorer:
  • Sebastian Aho: +360
  • Matthew Tkachuk: +460
  • Carter Verhaeghe: +750
  • Teuvo Teravainen: +1100
  • Seth Jarvis: +1100
  • Aleksander Barkov: +1200
  • Martin Necas: +1200
  • Sam Bennett: +1200
  • Sam Reinhart: +1400
  • Stefan Noesen: +1900

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Finals Goalie Breakdown

Projected starting goalies via Left Wing Lock.

• Hurricanes: Frederik Andersen
  • Goals Against Average: 2.48
  • Save %: .903
• Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky
  • Goals Against Average: 3.07
  • Save %: .901

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Advanced Stats Breakdown

nERD via numberFire. Expected goal stats via NaturalStatTrick. Corsi and Fenwick stats via MoneyPuck.

• Hurricanes:
  • nERD: +0.62 (6th)
  • Goal Differential per 60: +0.53 (5th)
  • xGoal Differential per 60: +1.05 (1st)
  • Playoff Corsi %: 53.7 (3rd)
  • Playoff Fenwick %: 53.6 (4th)
• Panthers:
  • nERD: +0.59 (8th)
  • Goal Differential per 60: +0.50 (6th)
  • xGoal Differential per 60: +0.43 (4th)
  • Playoff Corsi %: 48.9 (10th)
  • Playoff Fenwick %: 46.3 (14th)

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Eastern Conference Finals Analysis

The Hurricanes enter Game 1 having returned to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2018-19 season and the second time since 2009. After back-to-back exits in the second round the last two years, they broke through with a victory over the Devils in five games.

The Panthers are into their second Eastern Conference Finals in franchise history and their first since the 1995-96 season. After three consecutive trips to the playoffs without advancing past the second round, the Panthers got over the hump, breezing past the Maple Leafs in five games.

Carolina is supposed to be here. They finished the regular season with the second-most points in the league (113) behind only the record-setting Boston Bruins. In the first round, they needed three one-goal victories, including two in overtime, to eliminate the New York Islanders in six games.

In the second round, they played up to their expectations, defeating New Jersey in five games by a combined score of 24 goals to 13 goals. The Hurricanes scored at least three goals in each game and held the Devils to a single goal three times. After a slightly nervy ending to their first-round series, they bounced back in a big way and are in excellent form heading into the ECF.

Florida is not supposed to be here. They finished the regular season with the least points of any playoff team (92), earning the final playoff spot and setting up a first-round meeting with the top-seeded Bruins.

Down 3-1 and heading back to Boston for Game 5, the Panthers appeared to be headed toward another early postseason exit. Instead, they rallied to produce one of the greatest comebacks in NHL history. The Panthers won Game 5 on the road in overtime and Game 6 at home despite falling behind twice in the final period. They completed the upset with an overtime victory in Game 7, tying the game in the final minute of regulation with their goalie pulled before eliminating the Bruins on a Carter Verhaeghe goal in the extra period.

They followed that up with a tremendous performance against Toronto in the second round. Florida won back-to-back games on the road to open the series before closing things out with overtime victories in Games 3 and 5.

The result is an ECF that features two teams in fantastic form. The Hurricanes have won five of their last six games, while Florida has won seven of their last eight. Both sides will enter Game 1 well-rested after ending their second-round series quickly. Carolina enters as the favorite, but that will mean little to a Panthers side that has been defying the odds for weeks now.

The Hurricanes have been excellent on home ice this postseason. Their 5-1 record leads the league, and they are averaging the third-most goals per home game (3.6) and conceding the least (1.8).

The Panthers have struggled at home (2-3) but have been elite on the road. Their 6-1 away record is four points better than the next closest team. Their 3.6 goals scored per away game ranks seventh, and their 2.6 goals allowed ranks third.

With Game 1 in Carolina on Thursday, both sides will begin the series where they have been at their best.

As it stands, the Hurricanes are favorites to win Game 1 (-144), the series, and the Stanley Cup (+200).

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.