The Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is set to begin on Tuesday, featuring Game 1 between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. Carolina advanced to this stage by defeating Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in five games during the second round. Florida, meanwhile, emerged victorious from a hard-fought seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, clinching their spot with a decisive 6-1 win on the road in the final game. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC.
Ahead of the game, betting odds favor Carolina, listing them as a -125 moneyline favorite. Florida enters as a +105 underdog. The over/under for the total number of goals scored is set at 5.5, with Carolina also available on the puck line at -1.5 with +205 odds. Before placing any bets, consider checking the NHL predictions generated by SportsLine`s proven simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times. Entering the conference finals of the 2025 NHL playoffs, the model boasts a combined record of 80-56 on top-rated NHL puck-line and over/under betting picks, resulting in over $1,600 in returns for players wagering $100 per pick. Bettors who have followed the model`s advice at various sportsbooks could have seen significant profits.
SportsLine Model`s Recommended Bets
Based on the model`s simulations, here are some top picks for the Hurricanes vs. Panthers Game 1:
- Hurricanes ML (-125)
- Over 5.5 goals (+110)
Analysis for Hurricanes Moneyline Pick
Carolina has maintained an undefeated record at home throughout these playoffs, securing wins in four of their five postseason games at PNC Arena by margins of two or more goals. Coach Rod Brind-Amour`s team also benefits from extra rest, having concluded their series against Washington on Thursday. In contrast, the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, will be playing on just a two-day turnaround after their intense Game 7 victory in Toronto on Sunday. The SportsLine model predicts Carolina to win the moneyline in well over 50% of its simulations for this matchup.
These are just some of the key betting insights for the Hurricanes vs. Panthers Game 1 on Tuesday. Additional picks for every game are available from the SportsLine model, which has demonstrated a strong performance in the 2025 NHL playoffs.
Analysis for Over 5.5 Goals Pick
The total has gone over 5.5 goals in each of the Panthers` last two road contests, where they managed to score six goals against Toronto`s netminder Joseph Woll in consecutive games. Florida`s starting goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, a Vezina Trophy winner, had a 2.55 goals-against average when facing Carolina during the regular season, allowing five goals over two games. Conversely, the Under has been the outcome in four of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen`s most recent five starts, though the Hurricanes offense has been productive, scoring three or more goals in their last three games.
