NHL Playoffs Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (5/18)

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final is set to take place with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers. Below, I give out my best bet for this series-opening tilt.

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Today’s Best NHL Bets

Odds courtesy of BetRivers Sportsbook

Florida Panthers (+123) @ Carolina Hurricanes (-143) | O/U 6 (+100/-120)

While all of the attention in the Eastern Conference went to the Boston Bruins and their historic season, the Carolina Hurricanes were arguably the best team in the league over the second half of the season. Since the Christmas break, at 5-on-5, the Canes ranked first in the league in both expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) and expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Backing up this elite two-way team is goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has been absolutely brilliant between the pipes this postseason. Through six appearances in the crease, he is 5-0 with a .931 save percentage (SV%) and 1.80 goals against average (GAA).

Those numbers do not even tell the whole story, given that he had a major hiccup in Game 3 against the New Jersey Devils. If you take out that performance, Andersen is 5-0 with a .955 SV%.

While the Florida Panthers are just as hot and are a terrific team, they just do not stack up with Carolina. Since the Christmas break, at 5-on-5, Florida ranks two spots lower than the Canes in xGF/60 and 20 spots lower in xGA/60.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky should be able to keep up with Andersen, but the blue line in front of him will make his job much more difficult. Through 10 appearances in the crease this postseason, Bobrovsky is 7-2 with a .918 SV% and 2.82 GAA.

I love the way Florida has been playing, and they are a group that truly believes it can win. However, Carolina is just a stronger team all over the ice.

Best Bet: Hurricanes Moneyline (-143)

Best of luck!

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Tony Sartori is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Tony, check out his archive and follow him @tony_sartori.