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The Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes will meet in Opening Night of the 2026-27 NHL season. Puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. EDT at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
The Hurricanes are favored at -128 on the moneyline, with the Panthers +106 to pull off the upset. The over/under is set at 6.5 (-100o / -122u).
Let's get into our Panthers vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction
- Pick: Under 6.5 (-111 | Play to -120)
Our Panthers vs. Hurricanes best bet is on the under, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
Panthers vs Hurricanes Odds
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -230 | 6.5 -100o / -122u | +106 |
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +184 | 6.5 -100o / -122u | -128 |
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes puck line: Hurricanes -1.5 (+190), Panthers +1.5 (-230)
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes over/under: 6.5 (-100o / -122u)
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes moneyline: Panthers +1.5 (-230), Hurricanes -1.5 (+184)
- Panthers vs. Hurricanes best bet: Under 6.5 (-111 | Play to -120)
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Panthers vs Hurricanes Preview
Florida Panthers Betting Preview
Last season, the Florida Panthers struggled to suppress high-danger scoring chances. They finished the campaign ranked 22nd in xGA/60, which is part of the reason this opening-night total is as high as 6.5.
That said, this Florida roster is completely different from last year's. Aleksander Barkov, the best defensive forward in hockey, missed the entire season.
Barkov was the back-to-back Selke Trophy winner as the league's best defensive forward prior to missing last season, and his return to the lineup will make this forward group immensely better in its own end. The Tkachuk brothers also bring an element of sandpaper to this forward group that the team didn't have last year, given that Matthew missed more than half the season while Brady played in Ottawa.
This forward group is going to be one of the most difficult to play against this year, which will make scoring difficult.
Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview
Of course, the defending Stanley Cup champions are always tough to stop. That said, Florida's revamped forward group will make life difficult for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Furthermore, goaltender Jacob Markstrom returned to the Panthers in the offseason. He's handled Carolina as well as anyone, posting a .913 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average over the past 14 meetings.
On the other end of the ice, Brandon Bussi is slated to get the start for the Canes. He only faced Florida twice last year during his rookie campaign but excelled in both meetings.
Bussi posted a .930 save percentage and a 1.92 goals-against average across those two outings.
Panthers vs. Hurricanes Prediction
Bussi's job is made easier by the fact that he plays behind one of the best defensive teams in hockey. Last year, Carolina finished fifth in xGA/60.
There's no doubt that both of these offenses are capable of scoring in bunches. However, both goaltenders have proven they can handle these teams well.
Furthermore, Florida's revamped forward group should make this a grueling contest and make scoring difficult.
Best Bet: Under 6.5 (-111 | Play to -120)
