The Easter Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers kicks off with Game 1 at Lenovo Center tonight, with puck drop set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Seth Jarvis has been huge for the Canes, and my Panthers vs. Hurricanes predictions expect him to be at his best again tonight.
Find out why in my free NHL picks for this May 20 matchup.
Who will win Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 1?
This is the second time in three years that the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are meeting in the East Final. Florida swept Carolina back in 2023, but it was closer than the 4-0 series tally suggests.
I think the Canes are better this time around, and they'll do everything they can to win tonight's series opener.
They've been dominant at home during these playoffs with a 5-0 record, a perfect penalty kill, and a +13 goal differential. I expect home ice to be the difference tonight, considering the Panthers are just 25-21-2 on the road this season.
Panthers vs Hurricanes prediction
My Panthers vs Hurricanes pick: Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 shots (-110 at Sports Interaction)
It’s been one heck of a season for Seth Jarvis. He was a shock addition to Team Canada’s "4 Nations Face-off" roster amid a career season where he scored 32 goals and had 67 points in just 73 games.
He’s continued his ascension to star status in these playoffs, averaging a point per game, which leads the Hurricanes and is an improvement of the .66 P/GP two seasons ago.
A much-improved Jarvis is a significant reason why I think the Canes have a better chance of winning this series than they did two years ago.
His production is up and his confidence continues to grow, leading to an uptick in his shooting numbers. He had a career-high of 204 shots this season, averaging 2.79 per game. This is the market I believe Jarvis is most undervalued in for Game 1.
His shot prop total is 2.5 priced at -110. He’s gone Over that number in back-to-back outings and four of his last six games this postseason.
The Hurricanes are a dominant puck possession team that has spent an NHL-best 46.6% of their games in the offensive zone, resulting in a league-leading 74.1 shot attempts per game — culminating in the most shots as well (33.2).
Furthermore, Jarvis’ line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov averages 93.4 shot attempts per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, second best only to a trio of Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Leon Draisaitl, who have played sparingly together this postseason.
The Canes forward plays well over 20 minutes a game for Carolina and has been its biggest driver offensively with top-line and No. 1 power play duties. This role should give him plenty of opportunity to muster up three shots on net for a third straight game.
Panthers vs Hurricanes same-game parlay (SGP)
Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 shots
Seth Jarvis anytime goal
Under 6.5
Jarvis scored in back-to-back games this postseason, and his line has scored 6.4 goals per 60 minutes. Florida is prone to giving up goals on the counterattack, so a pesky puck retriever with a scoring touch should be able to find the back of the net tonight.
These are two of the best teams defensively, combining for a GAA of just 4.24 per game. The Under went 3-1 in 2023 and is 7-3 in the last 10 games between these two clubs overall.
Sports Interaction: Canada’s home for NHL
Looking to bet on some NHL Playoffs action? Join Sports Interaction, the best in Canada for new bettors, and get a 125% bonus on your first deposit (up to $250)!
*Not available in Ontario. 19+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Panthers vs Hurricanes odds
Panthers vs Hurricanes live odds
Panthers vs Hurricanes opening odds
- Puck line: Florida +1.5 (-250) | Carolina -1.5 (+200)
- Moneyline: Florida +100 | Carolina -120
- Over/Under: Over 5.5 (+100) | Under 5.5 (-120)
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
Panthers vs Hurricanes trend
The Panthers are 7-3 on the moneyline in the last 10 meetings between these two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Panthers vs Hurricanes
| Location | Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC |
| Date | Tuesday, 5-20-2025 |
| Puck drop | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT, MAX |
Panthers vs Hurricanes latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
