The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers play Game 4 of the best-of-7 Eastern Conference Final Wednesday. The Panthers lead the series 3-0. Puck drop from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla., is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Hurricanes vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Panthers held on for a 1-0 victory in Game 3 on home ice, as the Hurricanes could not break through against Sergei Bobrovsky. The veteran tendy is starting to look like Conn Smythe Trophy timber, as he has single-handedly carried the Panthers to a 3-0 series lead.
Bobrovsky stopped all 32 shots he faced in Game 3, and all the Panthers needed was a Sam Reinhart power-play goal at 10:05 of the 2nd period to get the job done.
The Hurricanes outshot the Panthers 32-17, but there weren’t a lot of shots too hard for Bob to handle. Carolina has managed just 3 total goals in the 3 games so far, and just 1 goal in a 5-on-5 situation. All 3 games have been decided by a single goal, as the Hurricanes have squandered tremendous play by the goaltenders in the series so far.
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Hurricanes at Panthers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | Panthers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-275) | Panthers -1.5 (+220)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
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Hurricanes at Panthers projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (21-11-1, 2.48 GAA, .903 SV% – regular season) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – regular season)
Andersen was solid in Game 3, stopped 16 of 17 shots in his return to action after being rested in Game 2. He allowed just the single power-play goal to Reinhart, but that was all the Panthers needed to get the job done. Andersen slipped to 5-2 in the postseason despite a sparkling 1.58 GAA and .937 SV% in 8 appearances.
Bobrovsky made ‘only’ 32 saves in Game 3 for the shutout. He had stopped 150 shots in the previous 3 playoff games. In the postseason, Bobrovsky is 10-2 with a 2.15 GAA and .935 SV% with the 1 shutout in Game 3.
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Hurricanes at Panthers picks and predictions
Prediction
Hurricanes 2, Panthers 1
Moneyline
It’s now or never for the HURRICANES (-105), who haven’t been outplayed badly in this series despite an 0-3 deficit. In fact, neither team has been ahead by more than 1 goal in this entire series. We have had a total of just 9 goals in 3 games, with Florida scoring 6 of them.
Carolina should be able to scratch out a win to force the series back to Raleigh, as this team is too proud to meet the broom. In fact, I think the Canes force it back to Sunrise for a Game 6, but first things first.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Hurricanes +1.5 (-275) are too expensive on the puck line, costing nearly 3 times your potential return. If you like Carolina’s prospects, just play it straight up.
There hasn’t been a lot to like about the Canes, at least from an offensive perspective, but the defensive and goaltending efforts have been top notch. The Panthers -1.5 (+220) have just gotten the more timely goals, and better play in overtime thus far. However, you can’t bet Florida, either, as no one has been up by 2 or more goals at any point in this series.
PASS.
Over/Under
The books are making you pay extra for the UNDER 5.5 (-125), but it’s still the best play on the board. I am actually quite surprised the books didn’t drop it down to a flat 5.
In addition, I’d pursue the 1ST PERIOD UNDER 1.5 GOALS (-125), too. It has hit in each of the 1st 3 games in this series, and there is no reason to get away from it now.
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