Facing each other for the third and final time this year, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers meet at the BB&T Center for an Eastern Conference showdown. TVA Sports will broadcast the matchup, and the action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 2.
Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers Odds
Carolina (+155) is currently the underdog to Florida (-175) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -105 for the over and -115 on the under.
Florida is 39-38 straight up (SU) and has recorded -1.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2016-17 season (35-47). Of the team’s 77 games this season, 38 have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 23-14 SU at home this season.
The Panthers have converted on 18.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.8 percent of all penalties.
The Panthers, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 2.4 per game over their past five outings. The team has had to kill penalties for just 6.0 minutes per game over their last five outings, overall.
Averaging 28.1 saves per game with a .911 save percentage, James Reimer (20 wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses) has been the primary goalkeeper for Florida this year. If head coach Bob Boughner chooses to give him a breather, however, the team could turn to Roberto Luongo (15-16-16 record, .926 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average).
Aleksander Barkov and Vincent Trocheck will both spearhead the attack for the Panthers. Barkov (75 points) has tallied 26 goals and 49 assists and has recorded multiple points 21 times this year. Trocheck has 30 goals and 41 assists to his name and has notched a point in 49 games.
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 35-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. A total of 41 of its matches have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 17-22 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on 18.6 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 24th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.7 percent of all penalties.
Carolina’s skaters have been called for penalties only 2.7 times per game in total this season, 2.2 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 5.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (24.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for Carolina. Ward has 22 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, while registering a .905 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Hurricanes will be Sebastian Aho (28 goals, 36 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (23 goals, 39 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Eight of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 5-3 overall in those games.
Extra-man opportunities may be extremely important in the outcome of this game. The Hurricanes are 16-26 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 29-37 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Panthers are 16-21 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 19-24 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 3-3 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in three of Carolina’s last five games.
Florida has averaged 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but is averaging 2.0 goals per matchup over its three-game losing skid.
Florida skaters have averaged 26.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 12.9 giveaways per game (ranked 32nd in the league).
Carolina skaters have averaged 6.4 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.8 giveaways per game (ranked 18th).
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