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🏆 Playoffs
Last updated: May 20, 2025 5:46 AM EDT • 3 min read
The Florida Panthers are four wins away from punching their ticket to a third straight Stanley Cup Final, with the defensive specialist Carolina Hurricanes standing in the way.  The Hurricanes are the favorites at our best sports betting sites ahead of today’s series opener.  Puck drop at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., is at 8 p.m. ET (TNT).
Despite the home side being the favorite, our Panthers vs. Hurricanes prediction and NHL picks for Game 1 showcase why rest isn’t always best. 
👉 For more coverage, check out our Panthers vs. Hurricanes series prediction. 
🔎 Our NEW NHL player prop odds tool can help you find the best NHL odds across legal sportsbooks in your area!

✅ Against the spread pick: Panthers +1.5 (-250 via Caesars) ⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Panthers (+110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 5.5 goals (-120 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Score prediction: Panthers 3, Hurricanes 2 
That old chestnut of rest vs. rust could be decisive for Tuesday’s Game 1. Since Thursday, the Hurricanes have watched the events unfold between the Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
That’s five days’ rest compared to the Panthers’ one. I’m going with the assertion that the Panthers will benefit more as they should be flying, still on a high from beating Toronto again in a relatively stress-free yet dominant fashion.
The Hurricanes have the only remaining unbeaten home record (5-0) but haven’t faced a team like the Panthers, who play at a torrid pace with heightened aggressiveness. It could take Carolina a period or two to adjust. Plus, the Panthers boast the best away record (5-2).
Sergei Bobrovsky is back to his elite best, allowing four goals in the previous four games, with a .957 save percentage and 1.01 goals-against average. While Frederik Andersen – among the Conn Smythe Trophy odds favorites – is the best goaltender in the playoffs thus far, Bobrovsky takes that mantle over the aforementioned stretch. 
The Panthers’ netminder won’t have time to come out of his zen zone, while five days off may impact Andersen’s timing and focus, if only briefly. 
✅ Best bet: Panthers ML (+110 via bet365)
Live updated odds from our best sports betting apps.
As of Tuesday morning, we’ve seen a little line movement. 
Early action has seen a majority of the wagers (68%) on the home side, with the Hurricanes opening as -120 moneyline favorites and now sitting at long as -125 as a number of our best sportsbooks. 
The Under has seen a smaller majority of the bets (56%), with the 5.5 (-120) shifting to lines ranging from -125 to -132.
Ready to place your hockey bets today? Here are the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for the Stanley Cup playoffs:
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