Last Word On Hockey
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Welcome back to another NHL Predictions. Each day our writers here at Last Word on Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out. For this edition, we will look at the Florida Panthers taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in this series-opening Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Final series. Don’t forget to check out more NHL Predictions, as our writers continue this series throughout the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Time: 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TNT, TruTV, CBC, Sportsnet, TVAS, Max
We’re down to the final four in the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This round of NHL predictions takes a look at Game 1 between the two-time defending Prince of Wales champion Panthers and the Hurricanes. Florida outlasted the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games to book a third-straight trip to the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers dispatched their in-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the opening round. Amazingly, this marks the sixth year in a row that a team from the State of Florida qualified for the conference championship.
Carolina took down the Washington Capitals in five games in the second round. The Canes had taken down the New Jersey Devils in five games in first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Carolina is hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself as Florida swept them to a 4-0 series victory in 2023.
Let’s take a look at the scores and storylines for the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final in this round of NHL predictions.
Florida is coming a tough series against Toronto that went the distance. However, the Panthers had a pair of 6-1 victories in the last two games at Scotiabank Arena. The Cats won’t have to worry about rust as they’re already in a rhythm of having to play every other night.
Sergei Bobrovsky has seen some up-and-down performances in the second round, but did have some games where “Playoff Bob” shone through. Bobrovsky has plenty of playoff experience and will get the start once again for Florida.
One thing the Panthers do have is scoring depth. Brad Marchand and Eetu Luostarinen are tied for the team’s lead in points with 12. However, eight different players have eight points or more so far this post-season. Carolina will have a hard time try to deal with the multiple lines that Florida will roll out.
Carolina has gotten time to rest up after beating Washington in Game 5. The Hurricanes have been off May 15 when they beat the Capitals, 3-1. This has allowed the Canes to get some sort of rest in what can be a tough slog.
Frederik Andersen has done a great job this postseason and baffled the Capitals offence in the last series. Carolina also has a great defence paced by Jaccob Slavin and others. That blueline group will be called upon to stop the plentiful scoring that the Panthers posses.
Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho are tied for the team’s lead in points with ten this postseason. Andrei Svechnikov holds the club’s lead in goals with eight so far for Carolina.
We’ll see another installment of the rest versus rust argument. Florida went through some things, but did sail through Game 7. Carolina has been off for a while and could be slow out of the gate.
The first 10 minutes could tell the story for this game. However, take the Panthers to get a victory in the series-opener.
Prediction: Panthers win 3-2.
We close out NHL predictions with some prop bets of the night. The over/under for this game is 5.5 and we like the under in this game. However, Florida’s scoring can make people nervous.
As for individual props, go with Sam Reinhart to get a goal in this game for the Panthers. On the Hurricanes side, take Aho to get the over on 0.5 assists in this game.
Main photo by: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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Longtime sportswriter for the Watertown Daily Times. I have covered minor league and NCAA hockey in women’s Division I and men’s Division III. Also produce the nationally-syndicated Spadora on Sports radio show.
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