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🏆 Playoffs
Last updated: May 19, 2025 7:31 AM EDT • 5 min read X Social
The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes will meet in the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three seasons, with the former the slight favorites at our best sports betting sites to advance to their third straight Stanley Final. 
Our Panthers vs. Hurricanes prediction breaks down which team has the advantage entering the series while highlighting an AI pick with accompanying ChatGPT analysis. 
The odds are via our best NHL betting sites and are updated in real time.
The Hurricanes have been knocking on the Stanley Cup Final door for a few years. And if it were against anyone else, I’d recommend backing them to finally get over the hump. But we’re not discussing anyone else; we’re talking about the defending Cup champions, a team with more depth than an Academy Award Best Picture winner. 
They have a core of players built for postseason success, including Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, and Carter Verhaeghe. While the Hurricanes are an elite defensive outfit, they don’t have the offensive prowess of a Panthers team that can score from any position regardless of which line is on the ice. 
And new additions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones have arguably been the team’s most influential players, with the former tied for the most points (12) with Eetu Luostarinen. 
💡 Eastern Conference Final prediction: Panthers 
💰 Best odds: -115 via Caesars
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Offense: The Panthers have scored the second-most goals per game of the remaining teams (3.75), while the Hurricanes are just behind in third, scoring 3.40 per game. However, 56% of the Hurricanes’ goals came against an injury-ravaged New Jersey Devils defense.
While the Hurricanes are known for their score-by-committee approach, the Panthers have taken that mantra to another level, becoming the first team in over 30 years to have 17 unique goal scorers through their first 10 playoff games. Forsling was the only Panthers defenseman not to score in the second round, further highlighting their embarrassment of offensive riches. 
The Panthers also have the advantage individually, as they are loaded with high-end offensive talent throughout the lineup. 
Defense: The Hurricanes get the edge here thanks to a sensational collective effort. They have allowed the fewest goals per game (1.80), only conceding more than two once against the Capitals, which came via an empty-net insurance marker in Game 2. They allowed one in four of 10 games while also securing a shutout. 
5-on-5: Both teams are superb at hemming the other team deep and dictating play, but the Panthers have the second-best goals for above expected (6.04), while the Hurricanes are second-worst (-7.71). Carolina is far superior regarding goals against above expected, with -8.62, compared to the Panthers’ 2.1.
However, it took a while for Sergei Bobrovsky to find his best form. Now that he has, the Panthers will invariably cut that deficit.  
Special teams: The Hurricanes have the fourth-best power play and second-best of the remaining teams (28.4%), while the Panthers are down in 10th (20.5%). Carolina is also verging on immaculate on the penalty kill, with a playoff-best 93.3%. The Panthers don’t concede much ground there, with the second-best penalty kill (89.5%). 
Goaltending: If you base it purely on stats, Frederik Andersen – a Conn Smythe Trophy odds front-runner – has the edge. But I’m compelled to include various other factors in this scenario, facilitating a Bobrovsky advantage.
The Cats’ ace rounded into peak form in the latter stages of the second round, and he was two or three poor performances away from winning last season’s Conn Smythe. Plus, Andersen has been plagued by durability and health issues, a recurring theme that reared its injured head in Round 1, albeit briefly.  
Odds via FanDuel 
We asked ChatGPT, a large language model chatbot from OpenAI, for its best prediction to win the Eastern Conference Final. Please note that ChatGPT is not an experienced bettor but can provide additional information and insights into the tournament and betting markets. This is for entertainment purposes only.
💡 AI Eastern Conference Final prediction: Panthers 4-3
💰 Best odds: +475 via 
DraftKings
1. Defensive Structure and Discipline
2. Depth Scoring
3. Frederik Andersen’s Rebound
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All games start at 8 p.m. ET
Game 1: Tuesday, May 20, Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 2: Thursday, May 22, Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 3: Saturday, May 24, Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, Fla.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 4: Monday, May 26, Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, Fla.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 5: *Wednesday, May 28, Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 6: *Friday, May 30, Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise, Fla.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Game 7: *Sunday, June 1, Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.) 📺/🛜: TNT, MAX, truTV, SN, CBC, TVAS
Want to bet on the Stanley Cup playoffs? Check out the best NHL betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today’s games:
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