Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes will be played tonight at 8 p.m. ET at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It will be broadcast on TNT and TruTV and streamed on Max.
Is Carolina delaying the inevitable? Or is a comeback in the cards? After shutting out the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 3-0 in Sunrise, the Hurricanes have given themselves a glimmer of hope. Now, with the series standing at 3-1 in favor of Florida, all eyes are on the Canes to pull off the first comeback down 3-0 in 11 years.
Check out my Panthers vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks for May 28, 2025.
Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +200 | 5.5 105o / -125u | -125 |
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -250 | 5.5 105o / -125u | +105 |
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes puck line: Panthers +1.5, Hurricanes -1.5
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes over/under: 5.5
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes moneyline: Panthers -125, Hurricanes +105
Florida Panthers Preview: A Bump in the Broom
We should’ve seen this coming.
I don’t care if Florida is the defending champ; the Panthers have had trouble closing out a series. So, no matter how dominant they looked in the first three games, you had to think this was a real possibility.
I don’t think the Panthers are in trouble, though. They were missing Niko Mikkola, Sam Reinhart, and A.J. Greer for Game 4, and Mikkola has had a huge impact on this series.
The good thing for Florida is that all three took the ice yesterday at an optional skate, so there’s hope for the Cats.
They didn’t look poorly, either; it just seemed like the Hurricanes had more jump and a smidge better goaltending.
Sergei Bobrovsky will be just fine as well. He looked the part of a Stanley Cup goaltender and played to a 1.84 GSAx, which was better than Freddie Andersen’s 1.2.
Don’t expect this team to put up another goose egg like Game 4. This is a seasoned group with high-end skills. The last time they got shut out in the playoffs was against Toronto, with an opportunity to move to the next round.
Sound familiar?
In the following game, they dominated with a 6-1 victory.
Carolina Hurricanes Preview: Is A Storm Coming?
Carolina was simply tired of the jokes.
The Hurricanes won their first Conference Finals game since 2009, but is it too late?
The Canes made a significant leap, finally playing like their season depended on it. It started as a game we’re used to seeing, with a tight-knit pace in the first period, just to feel each other out.
However, after the first, we were limited to just one goal from Logan Stankoven, and Andersen played his best game of the series with a shutout.
After coach Rod Brind’Amour called out his best players for poor performances, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov played like total beauties, leading the team in expected goals. Stankoven was also among the team’s most efficient play drivers.
It was everything the Canes were looking for when the series started. They limited Florida’s high-danger opportunities, stifled them defensively, and the one goal that finally got past Bobrovsky was the difference maker. Not only that, MoneyPuck gave Carolina a 74% in its “Deserve-To-Win O’Meter.”
You have to wonder if Brind’Amour’s comments stuck with the team past Game 4. Was it just a one-off? Or is Carolina all the way back? Tonight’s game will make or break its season.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction, Pick
As I stated before, if I were a Panthers fan and/or future bettor, I wouldn’t be worried.
When the stakes are high, they usually bounce back. Coach Paul Maurice has even stated his group is usually quick to learn their lessons.
Carolina, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It’s a position that the Canes haven’t been in all playoffs, and history would suggest that because it’s a Conference Finals game, they’re going to crumble.
I’m inclined to believe it was just a one-off until they prove me wrong, of course.
While Carolina was one of the best teams this season at home and in the playoffs, Florida put a stop to that immediately, outscoring the Hurricanes 10-2 on their home rink.
The Panthers' moneyline is at a decent value here, so I’m going to grab it before the odds become less favorable.
Pick: Panthers ML (-125, BetMGM)
How to Watch Hurricanes vs. Panthers
- Location: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV/Streaming: TNT
