2025 NHL Playoffs: Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Series Picks and Predictions

The reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers travel to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the series opener in the Eastern Conference Finals in the NHL.

This is the second time in three seasons the two franchises have met at this stage of the playoffs.

Florida swept Carolina in 2023. Now, the Panthers are making their third straight Conference Finals appearance and are looking to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight year as well.

The Panthers won the first title in franchise history last year. Carolina won its only Stanley Cup in 2006, and has not been back to the Finals since then. 

Florida knocked out the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round in five games and then defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Atlantic Division champions, in seven games. The Hurricanes defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games in the first round to win a playoff series for the seventh straight year, and they dispatched the Washington Capitals in five games in the second round.

Carolina is one of only four teams to reach the postseason each of the past seven years, but Florida won the regular season series 2-1. 

With all of that in mind, read our experts’ picks and predictions regarding this series below.

Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes series betting picks and predictions

Hurricanes to Win Series 4-3 (+450)

This prediction takes two factors into consideration. First, Carolina is nearly unbeatable at home.

The Hurricanes went 31-9-1 in the regular season, finishing second to the Los Angeles Kings (31-6-4) in home points. 

They have followed that with a spotless postseason to date at the Lenovo Center, going 5-0 while outscoring opponents 21-8.

The team has been no slouch on the road either, going 3-2 this postseason, as well as 2-1 in overtime contests.

The other factor here has been the play of Carolina’s defense, including goaltender Frederik Andersen, who is in the running for the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the postseason.

Andersen is 7-2 with a 1.36 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. Both of those are best in the NHL Playoffs. He has posted one shutout and allowed two goals or less in eight out of nine contests, with the one exception a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Devils in Game 3 of the first round.

Andersen’s play, bolstered by a stingy defense, has allowed Carolina to outscore the Devils and Capitals by nearly two-to-one in the postseason. The team has allowed a total of 18 goals in 10 postseason contests, and that will serve them well in what looks to be a long series.

Over 6.5 Total Games (+190)

At the same time, our experts expect the defending champs to push the Canes the whole series.

Neither team distinguished itself in the regular season. Carolina finished second in the Metropolitan with 99 points, and the Panthers were third in the Atlantic with 98 points. But the two sides have exhibited their postseason class time and again.

Florida has scored 45 goals in 12 games, outscoing their opponents by a total of 16 goals through two rounds. And although the Panthers are just 2-3 at home this postseason, they are 5-2 on the road, outscoring the Lightning and Maple Leafs 33-16 in their respective buildings.

Carolina’s fortress attitude at home will not intimidate Florida, which also won there early in the regular season.

Brad Marchand has done exactly what was expected of him since coming over from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline. He and Eetu Luostarinen lead the team with 12 points each in the playoffs. A balanced offense has six players between nine and 12 points, and Sam Bennett leads the team with six goals.

Sergei Bobrovsky remains in goal after winning the Stanley Cup a year ago. He is 8-4 this postseason with a 2.32 GAA and .901 save percentage. 

Florida could very easily win this series in seven games as well. Either way, our experts see this one going the distance.

Andrei Svechnikov Leading Goalscorer (+800)

It makes sense to go with the hot stick here. With both teams spreading the wealth offensively, Svechnikov’s eight goals stand out. That is second in the NHL behind the Dallas Stars’ Mikko Rantanen this postseason.

Svechnikov, the second overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had scored 15 goals in 51 postseason contests before this season, but has eight tallies in 10 playoff games this year.

He has scored in six different games, including in each of the final three games of the team's Conference Semifinals series win over the Caps.

More importantly, Carolina is 6-0 when he scores. At +800, the 25-year-old represents the best series scoring leader option here. 

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Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.