Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers will be played tonight at 8 p.m. ET at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. It will be broadcast on TNT, TruTV and streamed on Max.
Going down 3-0 in any series is one of the more haunting deficits a team could face. It's even more when your opponent is the defending Stanley Cup champions, who are looking to reach the finals for the third consecutive year.
Check out my Hurricanes vs. Panthers predictions and NHL picks for May 26, 2025.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers Odds
| Hurricanes Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -210 | 5.5 110o / -130u | +130 |
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +170 | 5.5 110o / -130u | -155 |
- Hurricanes vs. Panthers puck line: Hurricanes +1.5, Panthers -1.5
- Hurricanes vs. Panthers over/under: 5.5
- Hurricanes vs. Panthers moneyline: Hurricanes +150, Panthers -185
Carolina Hurricanes Preview: No Surge, Just Submerged
“It can’t be Jordan Staal and (Jordan) Martinook being our best players, and they are every night.”
Those were the words uttered by Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour after yet another embarrassing defeat to the Florida Panthers in Game 3.
Yikes.
It’s unfathomable that the Hurricanes are in this position. That’s not to say Florida is one of the best teams we’ve seen in a while, but still, you’d expect a little pushback from the team that took down the Eastern Conference leader in points with ease in the semifinals.
Now, they find themselves staring at a 3-0 series deficit — deficit only four teams in NHL history have come back from, the last being the Kings back in 2014.
Brind’Amour thought a goalie change would help, but the presence of Pyotr Kochetkov only delayed the inevitable. It was a 1-1 game heading into the third, and then Florida emptied the clip.
With its three straight third-period meltdowns, Carolina’s 5-on-5 play has been abhorrent, ranking third out of four teams in expected goals with a 41.43 xGF% and third defensively with a 2.72 xGA/60.
The Canes were never the best team on the road, so this game will be a major test. Will Brind’Amour’s postgame comments help light a fire under the Canes? Or will they be forced to pack their bags and head to Cancun?
Florida Panthers Preview: Cats on the Prowl
Game 4 is just another day at the office for the Panthers.
After already making the Stanley Cup Finals two consecutive times with one ring to show for it, what’s a measly series clincher up 3-0 going to do?
The work that Florida has done shouldn’t be understated. Toronto took the Panthers to seven games, but it was the Panthers who refused to panic.
Sergei Bobrovsky has seen enough of these games in his career, and at the ripe age of 36, it doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down. I liken him to Lucario in Pokemon; the more shots he faces, the stronger he gets, stopping 71 out of the past 75 shots sent his way.
What shouldn’t surprise anyone is the Panthers’ depth. This is a team that has 10 players who have registered 10 or more points, including Sam Reinhart, whose status is still unknown.
Florida’s even-strength play has been undeniable, with a 58.57 xGF%, but its power play has stood out in a major way, converting on 44% of the team’s power plays.
The Panthers have also managed to capitalize on their high danger opportunities. While the Hurricanes have only converted on one high-danger goal out of 24 chances, the Cats have converted on five out of 25 chances.
Hurricanes vs. Panthers Prediction, Pick
In Game 3, after falling behind badly, I thought the Hurricanes would offer some kind of pushback. Well, the push back was there, but only in the first two periods, then all hell broke loose.
Had Carolina been facing any other team, I’d bank on a little bit of a comeback. But since Florida is so seasoned and obsessed with the goal of capturing another Cup, I can’t in good conscience back anything in favor of the Canes.
Panthers -1.5 is at an incredible value, and I’ve noticed that the lines keep dropping as the day progresses.
Not only that, but the Hurricanes’ have an embarrassing record in Conference Finals games. They’ve lost an unprecedented 15 consecutive games in the Conference Finals, dating all the way back to the 2008-09 season.
Florida just wants it more, so I’m backing the defending champs.
Pick: Panthers -1.5 (+135)
Hurricanes vs Panthers Game 4 Parlay
In honor of Game 4, I thought I should sprinkle in a little same-game parlay for my lovely readers.
Along with picking Florida’s puck line, I see some value in backing Brad Marchand’s shot prop with two or more shots. He’s registered two shots in the past two games, and in Game 7 against Toronto, he registered three. Marchy is a veteran with loads of experience, so I can envision him getting at least two shots on goal.
Additionally, I’ll be backing Carolina’s Seth Jarvis’ shot prop. Jarvis has averaged a point per game in these playoffs, and he’s easily solidified himself as a premier player in this league. So far, he’s averaged 2.7 shots per game, but has proven to go off for as many as five shots in a game.
- Panthers -1.5
- Brad Marchand 2+ Shots
- Seth Jarvis 3+ Shots
Parlay odds: +875 (BetMGM)
How to Watch Panthers vs. Hurricanes
- Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
- Date: Monday, May 26, 2025
- Puck Drop: 8:00 p.m. ET
- TV/Streaming: TNT
