Tuesday night kicks off the conference finals of the NHL playoffs with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final between the defending-champion Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Panthers are second-favorites behind the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup at +250 odds, but the Canes are close behind at +300. Carolina’s last Cup win was in 2006. The odds for this series are wafer-thin.

How to watch Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes
Venue: Lenovo Center — Raleigh, N.C.
Time: 8 p.m. ET, Tuesday
TV (U.S.): TNT, truTV
TV (CAN): Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports
Stream: Max
Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.
Panthers at Hurricanes Game 1

Series odds: Panthers -125, Hurricanes +105

The Panthers, for the third straight year, are the best Atlantic Division team left standing. The Hurricanes, unlike years past, are the Metropolitan Division team to beat.

It’s a 2023 conference final rematch, which Florida won 4-0, with stronger teams on both sides of the equation. The Hurricanes haven’t changed their style since; they bring a relentless pressure and a disruptive game that took out the Devils and Capitals. The Panthers take away time and space from their opponents; that eliminated the Lightning and Maple Leafs.

Who wins out?

Both teams are defensive powerhouses who don’t give up much at even strength or on the penalty kill. Sergei Bobrovsky has earned a new playoff reputation, while Frederik Andersen is standing tall in the net for the Canes. So the difference may come down to which team’s offense can cut through that. The Panthers have a deep lineup and a productive third line led by Brad Marchand. But the Canes’ stars may be able to go head-to-head with Florida’s best, now that Andrei Svechnikov has rebounded from a rough regular season.

Expert picks

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(Photo of Brad Marchand: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)