LaRusic's prediction: Expect Sam Bennett to light the lamp again for the Panthers in Game 3 vs. Carolina to keep his goal count on an increase.
NHL
The Carolina Hurricanes travel to Sunrise trailing 2-0 in the series and reeling after a pair of lopsided losses to the Florida Panthers.
Sam Bennett has already lit the lamp three times in the series, and our Hurricanes vs. Panthers predictions are banking on “Playoff Benny” to strike again tonight.
Read on for my top NHL picks for May 24.
This series is done like dinner. The Florida Panthers’ ferocious forecheck has tormented the Carolina Hurricanes through two games, and a return to Sunrise isn’t going to make things any easier.
When you have your fans chanting “shoot the puck”, you know how dire things have become. Florida will take a commanding 3-0 series lead.
My Hurricanes vs Panthers pick: Sam Bennett anytime goalscorer (+200 at Sports Interaction)
“Playoff Benny” has come to play in the Eastern Conference Final, and he won’t be slowed down in Game 3.
Sam Bennett centers a line with Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk, and that line currently has the title “Proud owners of the Carolina Hurricanes”. Through two games, these three skaters have combined for 12 points, with Bennett tallying three goals and a helper.
Bennett netted two goals in Game 2’s shutout win, including a PP marker. Not only does Bennett play on the white-hot second line, but he finds time on the second power-play unit. It also helps the center almost always enters the game in prime opportunities to score.
Through 14 playoff games, 79.8% of Bennett’s shifts have started in the offensive zone. When four out of every five shifts have you in enemy territory, your scoring chances increase exponentially.
Benny has nine goals in 13 playoff games so far and had a ridiculous 21.4% shooting percentage — up from his regular-season average of 10.4%. While that will come down to earth eventually, Florida’s dominance of Carolina makes me believe regression won’t come in this series.
Sitting with a +200 price tag, I’ll happily back the perennial shit head to score in a third-straight outing.
Sam Bennett anytime goalscorer
Panthers -1.5
Seth Jones 1+ shots
The first two games of this series weren’t even close, and Game 3 will have a similar fate. The Cats’ last five wins have all come by at least two tallies.
Seth Jones is averaging 25 minutes per game for Florida and has recorded at least one shot in seven of 10 games — including both games vs. Carolina.
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Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
The Panthers are 5-0 ATS in their last five wins. Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Panthers.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Kyle LaRusic joined Covers in 2020 with a Holland College diploma in Journalism and a Mount Saint Vincent Degree in Public Relations. Stints at Amherst News and the Cape Breton Post helped sharpen his skills in a newsroom setting, while working for MSVU and Dalhousie’s athletic departments landed Kyle in his comfort zone.
Kyle has been an avid bettor for over five years, starting with just one Sports Interaction account before discovering both the beauty and importance of price shopping. bet365 and Pinnacle are his go to books, but accounts at 10+ sportsbooks give him an array of options. “Rusty” will bet on anything under the sun as long as there’s value and good reasoning behind it, but NHL and NFL are his two favorite leagues to watch and wager on — especially with friends.
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