VW'S NHL CONFERENCE FINAL WINNER #3 IN A ROW
- Handicapper
- Vegas Writer
- League
- NHL
- Competition
- Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes
- Release Date
- 05/22/2025 07:28 AM
- Event Date
- 05/22/2025 08:12 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Florida Panthers +112
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Win
- Analysis
- The Florida Panthers won Game 1, and I think the defending Stanley Cup champions will make it two in a row and immediately put the Carolina Hurricanes on the ropes.
The Cats have had the tougher road to this point, and I've always said teams with a harder path will be battle tested when the Conference Finals arrive.
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The Hurricanes won each of their first two rounds with gentleman sweeps over the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals.
After taking out a team many had penciled in as their Eastern Conference favorite, the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, the Panthers took out the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, the decisive game being a 6-1 decision in Canada.
The Panthers went straight to Raleigh from Toronto, and they even started before Dallas and Edmonton, even though their series ended after the Stars' Game 6 win over Winnipeg.
I'm going to back the road team in this one, as I think there's something to be said for keeping the momentum flowing. The Panthers have now won eight of their last 11 meetings with Carolina, including five of the last seven in Raleigh. And, the road team has won three of the last four meetings.
Florida owns a 6-2 road record this postseason, outscoring their opponents 38-18 in those eight contests for an average of 4.75 goals per game. Florida’s six road wins and 38 goals for on the road lead all teams in the 2025 postseason.
I'm also going to lean on experience in this one, as the Panthers are in yet another conference final, as they aim for their third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They know the importance of setting the tone early and stealing Game 1 to obtain home ice.
The last time these two teams faced off the Panthers bested the Hurricanes in four games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 2023.
The Panthers have scored five or more goals in six of their 13 games in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and I expect them to apply the pressure tonight in Game 2.
