Panthers vs. Hurricanes Predictions, Picks & Odds: ECF Game 1, 5/20

We have finally arrived at the final four of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs! The Eastern conference will kick things off tonight for the conference final series in what should be a great matchup between last year's Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers against the upstart Carolina Hurricanes of the Metropolitan Division.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Predictions For Tonight's Eastern Conference Finals Game 1, 5/20
We have finally made it out of divisional play in these Stanley Cup Playoffs and I could not be more excited for this matchup. Each team plays the game in a very different way as the Panthers lean on their star power while the Hurricanes are one of the deepest teams in the NHL. Both teams are coached at the highest level and have played the best defense of any team in the postseason as well. This is going to be a long grind it out type of series that should go 6 or 7 games and I can't wait to watch it all unfold.
Florida Panthers: The Hunt for Back to Back Cups
The Panthers are now just 8 wins away from being the first NHL team to win back to back Stanley Cups since the Penguins did it in 2016/2017 and look like they are prime to pull it off! They have been the 2nd best team in terms of goals allowed per game at just 2.42 and their offense is posting 3.75 goals per game.
They have been lead in the scoring department on offense but Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarianen with 12 points each and that is really a credit to their depth throughout the lineup. On the defensive end goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is 8-4 these payoffs with a .231 GAA and .901 SV% meaning he has been good when called upon but hasn't faced much of a large shot volume to date.
The Panthers come into Game 1 slight favorites in the series at -125 and are 6-2 on the road these Stanley Cup playoffs.
Carolina Hurricanes: Trying to Break Through to the Other Side
Its been a cycle of frustration for the Hurricanes when it comes to the postseason over the last 7 seasons as they've made the playoffs every season but have yet to make it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals despite having some teams capable of reaching the top. This does however mark the first time in this playoff streak that they have made the ECF and maybe that's a good omen for them.
The Hurricanes play the best team game of any team left in the tournament and that's a huge credit to Rod Brind'amor and his system. They smother teams defensively and they wear them out to create chances for themselves on the offensive end. This has led to them allowing just 1.8 goals per game these playoffs, the best mark out of the 16 teams that made the postseason.
The Hurricanes are lead in scoring by Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis who each have 10 points these playoffs and they also play on the top line of the forward group. On defense Frederik Andersen has been a brick wall in net with a 1.36 GAA and .937 SV%. His play has kept the Hurricanes in control of play through the opening pair of series and has had minimal mistakes.
Carolina comes into this series as slight underdogs at +105 but they are favored on the Money Line of Game 1 at home where they are 5-0 these playoffs.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines, Game 1
- Puck Line: Florida Panthers +1.5 (-250) vs. Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 (+205)
- Money Line: Florida Panthers (+105) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (-125)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 5.5 (+110) vs. Under 5.5 (-130)
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Best Bet: Game Total Under 5.5 (-130 on DraftKings)
This series features the two best statistical goalies left in the playoffs and two teams that are committed to playing defense first hockey as reflected by their xGA at 2.58 and 2.63. These numbers are significant as the new series begins and the two teams are going to see who will blink first.
The Panthers are 5-7 towards the under in games this postseason but they have yet to play a team built like the Hurricanes, this matchup will provide some issues for them scoring especially on the road against a Hurricanes team that have allowed 8 goals in 5 home games so far.
The Hurricanes and the under also fit as they're not a high scoring team this postseason and just 34 goals over 10 games. They have allowed just 8 goals over 5 home games as well. Give me the under here, should be a stalemate for most of this series and for the series opener tonight.
Player News
Blake Snell (shoulder) will make another minor league rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.
The 32-year-old southpaw is scheduled to throw three innings in what will be his third minor league rehab start. After this outing the Dodgers plan to evaluate him to see where he’s at. The expectation is that they’ll want him to be fully stretched out before rejoining the Dodgers’ starting rotation, which would require another couple of rehab starts.
Shohei Ohtani will start for the Dodgers on Monday against the Twins.
He’ll be followed in that start by Dustin May. That means that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start on Tuesday. With May set to follow Ohtani this time around, Ben Casparius is free to function in either a high-leverage or multi-inning role at any point that the Dodgers need him over the weekend.
Tigers signed RHP Tanner Rainey to a one-year contract.
The 32-year-old right-hander was released by the Pirates just before the All-Star break after posting a troublesome 10.57 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and a 9/6 K/BB ratio over 7 2/3 innings in 11 appearances at the big league level. He’ll give manager A.J. Hinch another weapon to deploy in the middle innings.
Yordan Alvarez (hand) resumed swinging a bat on Thursday.
The 28-year-old slugger continues his slow progression in his return from a small fracture in his right hand. He is currently with the Astros in Seattle and will continue to work out there with an eye towards eventually heading out on a minor league rehab assignment at some point once he’s ready to do so.
Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) was able to run at 90 percent on Friday as he continues to recover from a right hamstring strain.
Tigers’ skipper A.J. Hinch noted that while Carpenter is unlikely to begin a minor league rehab assignment over the weekend, there’s hope that he’ll be able to head out early next week. He should only need a couple of game’s worth of live at-bats before he’s cleared to return to the Tigers’ lineup.
Astros activated OF Chas McCormick from the 10-day injured list.
The dynamic 30-year-old outfielder will be active and in uniform as the Astros kick off the second half of the season on Friday evening against the Mariners in Seattle. Kenedy Corona was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move on Friday. McCormick has been shelved since May 30 due to a left oblique strain.