Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers (150, 5.5)
Carolina leads series 2-0
8 p.m. ET
Sergei Bobrovsky would like nothing more than to hand out three more bottles of wine to teammates for another shutout tonight when the Panthers host Carolina in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals. The man known as “Bob” to his teammates has embraced a tradition that I believe was started by Rangers goalie and current NHL on TNT broadcaster, Henrik Lundqvist, where Bobrovsky will have three names (drawn randomly, two in the regular season) after posting a shutout and the winners each receive a bottle of wine and a signed note from the Panthers netminder in gratitude of helping him earn the shutout.
Former NHLer Anthony Stewart has a great saying that came from his father, “Are you team or are you a club?” The Panthers are a team. When Panthers coach Paul Maurice met with the media on Friday, he talked specifically about how this group puts personal numbers aside and are all pulling together in their quest to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. The last team to accomplish this feat was the other team from the state of Florida, the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021). Eighteen different Panthers scored a goal and 21 different players have a point (best in this year’s playoffs). Florida’s 13 goals and 34 points from their back end also leads the playoffs, and all seven defensemen who have played in this year’s playoffs have scored a goal.
On the Carolina side, the only number that matters: they have lost 14 consecutive games when playing in round three of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Six of those losses have come at the expense of these Florida Panthers and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who has surrendered just eight goals over the six games. The Canes are now facing having to win four of the next five games to win the series. I just don’t see how a scenario where that is possible. Late-breaking news for tonight’s game is Rod Brind’Amour’s decision to go with Pyotr Kochetkov in net, replacing Freddie Anderson. Kochetkov has had one start in the playoffs, and that was the wild game against New Jersey in round one. Carolina rallied from down 3-0 to win 5-4.
One player the Hurricanes won’t have to deal with is the Panthers’ Sam Reinhart. Reinhart was injured in Game Three on a hit by the Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho and will be replaced on the top line by Jesper Boqvist. The last time Boqvist was inserted onto the top line in a game against Toronto (replacing an injured Evan Rodrigues), we cashed his anytime goal prop (+500).
Some other plays on my card for today. I am going back to the well, playing both teams to cover the (-1.5) goals. Fifty of the seventy-three (50-23) playoff games this year have been decided by two or more goals. When the favorite has won the game, they have won 32 of the 46 games (32-14) by two or more goals.
Following last night’s win by Edmonton, the Underdogs have now won 18 of 28 games (18-10) by two or more goals. Florida’s fourth line came up short in the last game, not coming away with a goal, but I will give them another shot at one of them finding the back of the net tonight in Game Three.
Two other Panthers players on my card for tonight are Eetu Luostarinen and Carter Verhaeghe. Luostarinen and Verhaeghe are tied for the team lead in points and Verhaeghe’s 24 playoff goals (five this year) over the last three playoffs are second only to Leon Draisaitl (29 goals). Evan Rodrigues has five assists in his last three games. The books are catching up on the Rodrigues assist prop. It is now at +215 after we grabbed +255 in Game Two, and it was +300 in Game One.
Like playing both teams to cover the (-1.5 goals), I will be on the Bobrovsky saves prop Over and Kochetkov saves Under. Carolina has yet to give up more than 21 shots on goal in a game, and even if they do, I am betting that the Panthers find the back of the net at least four times.
NHL Predictions:
Carter Verhaeghe anytime goal (+250) – .10 units, Bet365 has the best price
Eetu Luostarinen anytime goal (+800) – .10 units, DraftKings has the best price
Eetu Luostarinen Over ½ assist (+230) – .25 units
Evan Rodrigues Over ½ assist (+215) – .20 units
Jesper Boqvist anytime goal (+450) – .10 units
Sam Bennett anytime goal (+240) – .10 units
AJ Greer anytime goal (+1200) – .10 units
Jonah Gadjovich anytime goal (+1400) – .10 units
Tomas Nosek anytime goal (-1400) – .10 units
Florida Panthers Team Total Over 3 (-105) – 1 unit, available at BetMGM
Florida Panthers Team Total Over 3.5 (+140) – .25 units, available at DraftKings
Sergei Bobrovsky Over 24.5 saves (-125) – .50 units
Pyotr Kochetkov Under 23.5 (-110) – .50 units
Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 goals (+300) – .25 units
Florida Panthers -1.5 goals (+182) – .50 units
