NHL best bets: Eastern Conference Finals betting strategy

Take a look at our Western Conference Finals betting preview between Dallas and Vegas.

Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Odds to win series: Carolina -135, Florida +115

Game 1 odds

• Moneyline: CAR -135, FLA +115
• Total: 5.5 goals (-135)
• Puckline: CAR -1.5 (+180), FLA +1.5 (-210)

Previous meetings this year:

• Carolina 6, Florida 4
• Carolina 4, Florida 0
• Florida 3, Carolina 0

Top players this postseason 

Carolina

• Sebastian Aho: 5 goals, 5 assists, 24 shots
• Jordan Martinook: 3 goals, 7 assists, 30 shots
• Brent Burns: 2 goals, 6 assists, 41 shots
• Jesper Fast: 5 goals, 3 assists, 23 shots
• Martin Necas: 4 goals, 2 assists, 31 shots
• Seth Jarvis: 4 goals, 4 assists, 27 shots

Goalie:

• Frederik Andersen (.931 SV%, 1.80 GAA)
• Antti Raanta (.906 SV%, 2.59 GAA)

Florida

• Matthew Tkachuk: 5 goals, 11 assists, 35 shots
• Carter Verhaeghe: 5 goals, 7 assists, 31 shots
• Aleksander Barkov: 2 goals, 7 assists, 34 shots
• Brandon Montour: 6 goals, 3 assists, 45 shots
• Sam Reinhart: 6 goals, 2 assists, 29 shots
• Sam Bennett: 4 goals, 4 assists, 36 shots

Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky (.918 SV%, 2.82 GAA)

Betting take to begin series

Well, this certainly isn't the Eastern Conference Final many were expecting, but it should be a fun one nonetheless. 

At first glance, the betting tactic I plan to look to at the start is loading up some shots on goal props on the Carolina end. Florida has allowed over 39 shots per game on the road during this postseason run, and seeing the Hurricanes notch 34+ shots in all three meetings with the Panthers this season has me confident they find some room to operate here to begin the series.

Now it may sound redundant to bring forth win/loss records, given that both teams have won enough to make it this far, but it will be interesting to see which trend reigns supreme early in this one. Florida is 6-1 on the road thus far, while Carolina is 5-1 at home. 

Without numbers to call on, the Panthers do give me a team of destiny type vibe. They've been in playoff mode for months, clawing their way into the final Wild Card spot, where they proceeded to take down the best regular season team in NHL history. They then easily dispatched  Toronto, and I like them to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

While I may go light on Florida props to begin, I ultimately think they do just enough to advance past Carolina. Anthony Duclair on the Panthers top line has been a steady point producer of late, and he has some nice games against the Hurricanes under his belt.

Note that Teuvo Teravainen is expected to return for Carolina, less than a month after breaking his hand. It's a surprise return, but a welcome one, and it will be interesting to see how they rearrange their lines ahead of Game 1 should he return. The second line of Jesper Fast, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Martinook were on absolute fire in Round 2, and one has to imagine Rod Brind'Amour keeps that trio together.

Betting approach: Carolina SOG props in Games 1 and 2, Florida to win series (+115)