The Florida Panthers did exactly what they needed to do in Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes are the best team in the NHL at generating shot attempts, but if you keep your composure amidst the chaos, you can catch the Canes on the counter.
Florida was patient and clinical, and Carolina didn’t have an answer for it.
After cruising through Rounds 1 and 2, the Hurricanes now face an uphill climb for the first time this postseason.
Carolina is a -130 favorite on home ice on Thursday night.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes betting preview
The Hurricanes did what they always do in Game 1. They had a decisive advantage in shot attempts (56 to 38) at 5-on-5 and created more scoring chances than the Panthers. The problem was that Florida was sharp in the critical moments and clinical when they got quality opportunities.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two teams was that Sergei Bobrovsky stood tall in goal for the Panthers, while Frederik Andersen had his worst performance of the playoffs for Carolina.
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The most concerning part of the box score for Carolina is that, for all of its hard work getting pucks to the net, it didn’t generate many clean looks. The Canes created 1.8 expected goals at 5-on-5, which was just slightly better than the mark that the Panthers put up (1.5).
Panthers vs. Hurricanes pick
A loss in Game 1, even at home, doesn’t put your back up against the wall, but this will be uncharted territory for Carolina after winning eight of the first 10 games of the playoffs.
That will likely cause the Canes to be even more aggressive, which plays into Florida’s hands. The Panthers will be happy to sit back, absorb pressure, and look for opportunities to counter, which has always been the kryptonite of Rod Brind’Amour’s Hurricanes.
Florida is a good bet at plus-money in Game 2.
The Play: Panthers +110 (Bet365)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
