The Eastern Conference Final shifts back to the Lenovo Center for Game 5 on Wednesday, May 28, as the Florida Panthers look to close out the Carolina Hurricanes.
With their backs against the wall, the Hurricanes delivered a shutdown performance in Game 4 to earn a 3-0 win and extend the series. Here are my best NHL picks in the anytime goalscorer market for Game 5 tonight.
Check out our Panthers vs. Hurricanes prediction for more in-depth analysis ahead of tonight's game.
NHL anytime goalscorer picks for Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 5
Svechnikov anytime goalscorer (+230)
Verhaeghe anytime goalscorer (+235)- Kotkaniemi anytime goalscorer (+450)
Panthers vs Hurricanes anytime goalscorer props for tonight
Andrei Svechnikov anytime goalscorer (+230 at Sports Interaction)
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov has yet to score in Round 3 and has been limited to just 0.71 individual expected goals and three high-danger scoring chances. He’s also only converted his 14 attempts into three shots.
The dip in production shouldn’t be a huge shock, though. Svechnikov scored eight times with a 22.9 shooting percentage across Carolina’s first 10 postseason games. I just think the pendulum is set to swing back in his direction.
Plus, if the Hurricanes are going to have a chance to stave off elimination again, Svechnikov needs to show up.
Carter Verhaeghe anytime goalscorer (+235 at Sports Interaction)
It hasn’t been business as usual of late for Florida Panthers winger Carter Verhaeghe with just a single goal across his past seven games. The go-to scorer has generated a team-high 2.65 individual expected goals and 12 high-danger scoring chances, so the opportunities have been there.
Verhaeghe’s 7.7 shooting percentage during the slump is well below his 17.4% mark when he scored four times through Florida’s first 10 postseason games. Additionally, considering he posted respective 13.9 and 11.9 shooting percentages the past two postseasons, he’s right in line with past production and ripe to find the back of the net in Game 5.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi anytime goalscorer (+450 at Sports Interaction)
Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi has scored double-digit goals with an 11.9 shooting percentage across his four seasons with the club, so going 13 games postseason games without finding the back of the net is in the beginning stretches of a long goal drought.
He’s generated 2.03 expected goals and 12 high-danger scoring chances on his 41 attempts and 18 shots, so there has been an offensive pulse from the Finn.
Kotkaniemi is an option in flier territory.
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