Predicting Player Stats and Combined Wagers for Canes vs Panthers Game 2's Action
Eastern Conference Final: Panthers Secure Game 1 Victory, Hurricanes Seek Recovery in Game 2
The defending Stanley Cup champions, Florida Panthers, drew first blood in the Eastern Conference Final with a 5-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes last night at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes must now win Game 2 on Thursday to avoid a 2-0 series deficit before the series moves to Florida.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Canes enjoyed a significant share of possession and outshot the Panthers 33-20. The difference was the special teams and the ability to finish scoring opportunities. Florida was successful on two of their three power-play attempts, while Carolina's usually robust penalty kill struggled. To stand a chance of snapping their devastating 13-game conference finals losing streak, the Hurricanes must rectify these areas in Game 2.
Although the underlying numbers show a potential turnaround for Carolina, the upcoming game offers some intriguing value in the Panthers vs Hurricanes player props market. Read on for the top picks.
Panthers vs Hurricanes Player Props - Game 2
Seth Jarvis heads the charge with the shortest anytime goal odds at +195, while Sebastian Aho stands out as the best option to record a point at -188. Jarvis has proven himself to be one of Carolina's most consistent shooters in this postseason.
Favorite Player Prop Bet - Game 2: Seth Jarvis Over 2.5 Shots on Goal (-125 at FanDuel)
Jarvis has emerged as one of Carolina's most potent offensive threats this postseason. He recorded three shots on goal in the opening period of Game 1 itself, thereby meeting this bet's criteria early in the game. Moreover, he has surpassed 2.5 shots in three consecutive matches and five out of his last seven outings.
His recent statistics reveal a more confident and consistent shooting approach. In the last three games, Jarvis has registered 17 shot attempts, averaging 4.33 shots on target over those outings. When Jarvis was on the ice in Game 1, the Hurricanes outshot Florida 17-6. Given Carolina's desperate efforts to avoid falling 2-0 behind, expect Jarvis to continue launching numerous attempts on goal. At -125, this pick represents the best value among the available options.
Panthers vs Hurricanes Player Props Pick #2: Brad Marchand 1+ Points (+120 at FanDuel)
The acquisition of Brad Marchand has proven to be an ideal fit for the Panthers. His 12 points in 13 games this playoffs place him second on the team, and he has been integral to Florida's third line, playing alongside Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell.
Marchand has tallied three goals and nine assists in 13 games while maintaining a +11 rating. His physical play has resulted in 46 minutes in the penalty box, making him the most penalized player on the team, albeit many of these penalties were unavoidable consequences of play rather than deliberate misconduct.
Following his dust-up with Shayne Gostisbehere in Game 1, expect Marchand to bring extra intensity to Game 2. His line has been Florida's most consistent throughout the playoffs, and backing an established player like Marchand to find the scoresheet at +120 gives solid value.
Panthers vs Hurricanes Same-Game Parlay
For our same-game parlay, we combine both player prop selections with an under 5.5 total. Despite surrendering five goals in Game 1, the Hurricanes still boast the league's best goal prevention in this postseason, allowing an average of just 2.09 goals per game. Before their Game 1 defeat, Carolina had conceded more than three goals on only one occasion in these playoffs.
The Hurricanes have a history of making game-to-game adjustments effectively. After allowing four goals to the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of the first round, Carolina permitted just seven total goals in their subsequent series win over the Washington Capitals.
Carolina's strong goal prevention is the primary reason the under has been hit in four out of their last six games. Meanwhile, the Panthers ranked seventh in goals allowed per game during the regular season, and their 2.38 goals allowed per game in the playoffs ranks second.
The under has been successful in ten out of the last fifteen games between these two teams. With both Frederik Andersen and Sergei Bobrovsky coming off strong recent stints, expect a more defensive affair in Game 2 as the Hurricanes strive to tighten up after their special teams collapse.
- Seth Jarvis's odds for recording more than 2.5 shots on goal in Game 2 are -125 at FanDuel.
- Brad Marchand is a good bet to score at least a point (+120 at FanDuel) in Game 2 due to his consistent play and the Panthers' reliance on his line.
- A Panthers vs Hurricanes same-game parlay featuring both player prop selections and an under 5.5 total could offer value, considering Carolina's strong history of adjusting defensively and the tendency for the under to be hit in games between these two teams.
- The Hurricanes must rectify their special teams struggles and improve on the power-play, while standing a chance of snapping their devastating losing streak at the NHL Conference Finals.
