Hurricanes vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Semifinals Game 1: How to Watch, Odds, Picks & Predictions

The opening game of the Stanley Cup Semifinals will see the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers play on Thursday, May 18, starting at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. The Hurricanes are listed with -148 moneyline odds against the Panthers (+126).

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Odds

• Favorite: Hurricanes (-148)
• Underdog: Panthers (+126)
• Over/under: 5.5

When is Hurricanes vs. Panthers and when does it start?

This matchup between the Hurricanes and Panthers will happen on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Expect to see the puck drop at 8:00 PM ET.

Where to Watch Hurricanes vs. Panthers

The Hurricanes and Panthers will hit the ice at PNC Arena for this matchup on May 18, and if you would like to see the event live, get your tickets now from Vivid Seats!

What channel is the game on?

You can catch this game live on TNT.

Who Will Win Hurricanes vs. Panthers?

Hurricanes and Panthers Betting Trends

• In 45 games this season, Carolina and its opponent have combined for more than 5.5 goals.
• Florida has played 69 games this season that ended with over 5.5 goals.
• The two teams combine to score 6.7 goals per game, 1.2 more than this match’s total.
• These teams allow a combined 5.9 goals per game, 0.4 more than this match’s over/under.
• The Hurricanes have won 67.1% of their games this season when they’ve been a moneyline favorite (51-25).
• The Panthers have been an underdog in 28 games this season, and won 15 (53.6%).

Hurricanes Stats & Insights

• The Hurricanes are ranked 15th in the NHL with 262 goals this season, an average of 3.2 per contest.
• On defense, the Hurricanes have been one of the best units in NHL play, giving up 210 goals to rank second.
• With a +52 goal differential, they’re ranked seventh-best in the league.
• The Hurricanes shoot 9.2% as a team, ranked 26th-best in the league.
• The Hurricanes have yet to shut out an opponent this season, averaging 16.5 hits and 10.2 blocked shots per game.
• In their past 10 matchups, the Hurricanes have gone 7-3-0 to earn 85.0% of the possible points.
• They have scored 38 goals over that stretch.
• Over on the defensive end, the Hurricanes have allowed 2.6 goals per game (26 total) over those 10 matchups.

Panthers Stats & Insights

• The Panthers have scored the sixth-most goals (288 goals, 3.5 per game) in the NHL.
• The Panthers have allowed 3.3 goals per game, 272 total, which ranks 21st among league teams.
• Their 16th-ranked goal differential is +16.
• The Panthers’ collective 9.5% shooting percentage ranks 22nd in the league.
• The Panthers have not shut out an opponent this season. They average 21.4 hits and 13 blocked shots per game.
• In their last 10 games, the Panthers are 7-3-0 to earn 85.0% of the possible points.
• They have averaged 3.3 goals per game (33 total) during that time.
• On the defensive end, the Panthers have given up 3.0 goals per game (30 total) over those 10 matchups.

Hurricanes Key Players to Watch

• A leading offensive player this season for Carolina, Martin Necas has scored 71 points in 82 games (28 goals and 43 assists).
• Sebastian Aho is contributing with 68 points (36 goals, 32 assists).
• Frederik Andersen has a record of 21-11-1. He has allowed 82 goals (2.48 goals against average) and racked up 766 saves.

Panthers Key Players to Watch

• Matthew Tkachuk is a top offensive contributor for his team with 109 points (1.4 per game). He has recorded 40 goals and 69 assists in 79 games (playing 20:26 per game).
• Aleksander Barkov Jr. is pivotal for Florida’s offense with 78 total points (1.1 per game), including 23 goals and 55 assists through 68 games.
• Sergei Bobrovsky has a 24-20-3 record this season, with a .902 save percentage (26th in the league). In 50 games, he has 1333 saves, and has allowed 145 goals (3.1 goals against average).

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Injuries

• Hurricanes: Max Pacioretty: Out (Lower Body), Jake Gardiner: Out (Hip), Teuvo Teravainen: Probable (Hand), Ondrej Kase: Out (Concussion), Andrei Svechnikov: Out (Lower Body)
• Panthers: Patric Hornqvist: Out (Concussion), Ryan Lomberg: Probable (Upper Body), Spencer Knight: Out (Personal Reasons)

Hurricanes vs. Panthers Prediction

• Puck Line Pick:

  Hurricanes (-1.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (5.5)
  

• Score Prediction:
  Hurricanes 4 – Panthers 2

How to Bet on Hurricanes vs. Panthers

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