The Florida Panthers head to Lenovo Center with momentum after capturing a 5-2 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, giving them a crucial 1-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite being underdogs at +110 compared to the Hurricanes' -130, the Panthers' potent offense that converted 2 of 3 power play opportunities in the opener could prove decisive again.
The Hurricanes will need Frederik Andersen to elevate his game against Sergei Bobrovsky, with advanced models still giving Carolina a slight 53% win probability despite their opening loss.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers matchup, our predictive model gives the Panthers a 58.5% chance of defeating the Hurricanes.
Florida Panthers: 58.5% win probability
- Superior seasonal performance (98 points vs 99 points despite identical positions)
- Stronger recent form (LLWWW compared to Carolina's LLLWL)
- More efficient offensive output (252 goals scored while maintaining similar defensive record)
Carolina Hurricanes: 41.5% win probability
- Poor recent momentum (LLLWL suggests struggling form heading into this matchup)
- Less potent offense (266 goals scored compared to Florida's 252, but with a worse win percentage)
- Home ice disadvantage (their 4th place Eastern Conference finish suggests inconsistent home performances)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers odds
Here are the latest odds for the NHL matchup between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, with Carolina hosting at home on Thursday, May 22.
| Carolina Hurricanes | Florida Panthers | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -128 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | +110 (via bet365 US) |
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Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers preview
The Panthers silenced the Hurricanes with a commanding 5-2 victory in Game 1, converting on 2 of 3 power play opportunities while showing impressive offensive efficiency with 5 goals on just 20 shots.
Florida now carries a 1-0 series lead into Lenovo Center for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, where Carolina will be desperate to even things up on home ice.
Sergei Bobrovsky continues to be the backbone of Florida's playoff push, bringing his .914 career save percentage against a Hurricanes squad that ranked second in the league in shots taken this season.
The Hurricanes, who managed 33 shots but couldn't solve Bobrovsky consistently in the opener, will look to Frederik Andersen to stabilize their defense after the Game 1 stumble.
Despite being slight underdogs at +110, the Panthers have shown they can capitalize on limited opportunities - a concerning sign for a Hurricanes team that allowed Florida to convert 25% of their shots into goals in the series opener.
Key stats
- 1The Hurricanes sit 4th in the Eastern Conference with 99 points from 82 games played
- 2Carolina has posted a 47-30-5 record this season with a concerning recent form of LLLWL
- 3Florida ranks 5th in the East with 98 points, just one point behind Carolina
- 4The Panthers have been surging with a LLWWW recent form despite their slightly inferior 47-31-4 season record
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers form
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers head to head
Carolina Hurricanes
33%
Florida Panthers
67%
May 21, 2025
Carolina Hurricanes
2 : 5
Florida Panthers
Jan 3, 2025
Florida Panthers
1 : 3
Carolina Hurricanes
Nov 30, 2024
Florida Panthers
6 : 0
Carolina Hurricanes
Nov 29, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
3 : 6
Florida Panthers
Sep 28, 2024
Florida Panthers
5 : 4
Carolina Hurricanes
Sep 27, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
8 : 2
Florida Panthers
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