The Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers are set to clash in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Final on Tuesday. The host Hurricanes have enjoyed significant rest, having not played since eliminating the Washington Capitals in Game 5 of their second-round series last Thursday. In contrast, the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers face a quick turnaround after concluding their demanding seven-game series against the Toronto Maple Leafs just on Sunday.
According to the latest odds, Carolina enters Game 1 as the favorite at -124 on the money line, meaning a $124 wager would win $100. Florida is listed as the underdog at +104, where a $100 bet returns $104 if they win. The over/under for the total number of goals scored is set at 5.5. For goaltenders, the over/under for total saves is 23.5 for Carolina`s Frederik Andersen and 25.5 for Florida`s Sergei Bobrovsky.
Analysis using a projection model that simulates every NHL game 10,000 times notes a combined 80-56 record on top-rated NHL puck-line and over/under betting picks entering the conference finals.
Player Prop Bets for Game 1
Here are three player props to consider for the Hurricanes vs. Panthers matchup on Tuesday:
- Andrei Svechnikov Over 2.5 shots on goal (-140)
- Sam Reinhart anytime goal-scorer (+175)
- Frederik Andersen Over 23.5 saves (-115)
Andrei Svechnikov over 2.5 shots on goal (-140)
The Russian forward has consistently generated offense, recording three or more shots on goal in four of his last five playoff contests. He also demonstrated his shooting volume with a nine-shot performance earlier in the playoffs against the New Jersey Devils. This trend suggests he can frequently challenge fellow countryman Sergei Bobrovsky in net. This prop bet is currently available at -140 odds.
Sam Reinhart anytime goal-scorer (+175)
A key member of last year`s Stanley Cup-winning squad, Reinhart has a history of success against Carolina, having scored against them during the regular season. He has already found the back of the net four times this postseason, including a decisive snap shot against the Maple Leafs on Sunday. Betting on Reinhart to score at any point during Game 1 is priced attractively at +175 odds.
Frederik Andersen over 23.5 saves (-115)
Carolina`s starting netminder is expected to be busy. While the Hurricanes boast the best save percentage in the playoffs (.929), Florida`s offense averages nearly 29 shots per game. This high shot volume from the Panthers contrasts sharply with the 17.8 shots per game Andersen faced over five games in the previous series. Given the expected pace and Florida`s tendency to shoot, Andersen is likely to face more than 23.5 shots, making the over prop at -115 odds a compelling play.
