Carolina on the Brink of Elimination
It has become now-or-never time for the Carolina Hurricanes as they look to avoid being swept for the third time in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff series since relocating from Hartford in 1997. Carolina is the slight underdog in Game 4 according to the NHL picks.
The Hurricanes are putting up 11 more shots per game than Florida, have won 56% of the faceoffs and have looked like the better team at times only to drop three one-goal games. None of that matters as Carolina needs to win on the road in Game 4 or its season is over.
There are plenty of NHL betting options heading into Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final.
Florida veteran forward Aleksander Barkov has enjoyed playing against the Hurricanes. After tallying two goals and 13 shots on net in the three games against Carolina during the regular season, he has scored in each of the first two games in the series. He was injured in Game 3. However, the Panthers announced that he will be able to hit the ice for the crucial Game 4.
Coach Maurice confirms captain Sasha Barkov will play tonight in Game 4.
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 24, 2023
When looking at the NHL predictions, the prop bet of +200 for Barkov to score a goal could be worth the risk. That number could change once his playing status is determined. He is also listed at +900 to be the scorer of the game’s first goal.
Carolina is 3-3 on the road in the playoffs and the 87.5% mark killing penalties is first among the 16 playoff teams. Florida is 3–3 at home. The sportsbook favors Florida to sweep its way into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Florida. The Panthers are priced at -115 to win, with the total set at 5½.
The Hurricanes began the series priced at -130 to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Now, it is Florida at -1800 to take the series. If Carolina manages to extend the series, the odds are set at +300 for the Panthers to wrap things up on the road in Game 5 compared to +900 for the Hurricanes to win the next four games and take the series in seven games. Florida is priced at +125 odds to win the Stanley Cup according to the NHL betting lines.
Carolina to Take Control
Downtown Raleigh. Tonight. Bring the good vibes.
🍻 https://t.co/VbURRk7858 pic.twitter.com/p0MYeKDJXv
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 24, 2023
With three goals in three games, the Carolina Hurricanes have struggled to find answers against goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and the rest of the Panthers. They had better figure things out rather quickly.
The NHL odds have the Hurricanes listed at -105 to be the first team to score two goals compared to even odds for Florida to be the first team to hit the two-goal mark. After a 1-0 game the last time out, it seems unlikely that the game will finish with just one goal in Game 4.
The -250 odds that the team scoring first wins the game is worth considering after that number was set at -220 in Game 3.
Five different Carolina players have recorded the first goal in the game so far in the playoffs. Those who bet online would have been hard-pressed to pick Jalen Chatfield to do the honors the last time out.
Sebastian Aho tops all Carolina players with +750 odds to score the first goal followed by Martin Necas coming in at +1200. Keep that in mind when it comes to NHL live betting.
Carter Verhaeghe led all Florida players with four shots on goal in Game 2 and he could be a bargain at +1000 to be the first goal scorer.
Sealing the Deal?
FOUR OVERTIMES
ONLY ONE MATTHEW TKACHUK pic.twitter.com/fY9XfKdqdn
— Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 19, 2023
The trade made quite a bit of NHL news when the Florida Panthers, coming off a season when they had the most points in the regular season, sent leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau to the Calgary Flames in a deal that brought Matthew Tkachuk back to the Panthers.
Tkachuk had an outstanding regular season with 40 goals and a team-best 109 points. He has been even better in the playoffs with three game-winning goals, all coming in overtime.
Tkachuk is priced at +850 to score the first goal and is listed at +180 to be an anytime goal scorer.
He has shown the ability to play his best in the toughest moments so expect to see Tkachuk be front and center with a chance to close out the Hurricanes and secure Florida’s first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1996.
Ready to Work Overtime?
BELIEVE pic.twitter.com/fV1XDM1eou
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 24, 2023
Between the Florida-Carolina and Dallas-Vegas series, four of the first six games played have headed into overtime. Carolina had three straight games that couldn’t be decided in regulation.
Florida is 6-0 in overtime in this year’s playoffs. Carolina won its first three games that couldn’t be decided in 60 minutes so it would surprise absolutely nobody to see Game 4 head in the same direction.
Florida’s last four games in the Toronto series were decided by one goal, with two of them heading into overtime. If not for an empty-net goal in Game 6 of the series with the Boston Bruins, nine of the last 10 Florida games would have been one-goal affairs.
Carolina saw four of the six games against the New York Islanders decided by one goal before each of the first four contests against New Jersey ending up being either four or five-goal affairs.
Both teams are priced at +300 to win a one-goal game, according to the Las Vegas betting odds. They both come in at -120 to score the final goal, and with the way this series has played out, that could very well come in overtime.
Pick the One in the Middle
screw the actual games. the battle of Panthers vs Hurricanes graphic designers is my real passion. pic.twitter.com/ZsaPwolrI2
— Nathan “Grav” (@NathanGraviteh) May 18, 2023
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the only goal in Game 3 came in the second period.
The Hurricanes and Panthers have combined to score 37 goals in the second period in the playoffs. There have been 16 goals scored in the first period and 27 in the third period.
Will that trend continue in Game 4?
The odds are currently at +300 for the second period to be the highest-scoring period in Game 4. The first period is priced at +325 and the third period at +190. The teams have combined to win nine overtime games so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there is a +225 number on this game heading into overtime..
