The Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers meet in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV / Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Hurricanes vs. Panthers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Series: Panthers lead 3-0

The Hurricanes were pushed to the brink of elimination after a disappointing 6-2 loss in Game 3 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. It started off promising, as it was 1-1 heading to the third period, after C Logan Stankoven notched a power-play goal at 14:51 of the second. However, the floodgates opened in the third. Florida has outscored Carolina 16-4 in the first 3 games of this lopsided series.

Panthers C Jesper Boqvist managed a goal with 3 points, all in the third period, and he made a nifty move on a turnover and deke, to sneak one through the 5-hole of Hurricanes G Pyotr Kochetkov. Florida D Niko Mikkola had a pair of third-period goals, while C Aleksander Barkov had a pair of third-period goals, too. He finished with 3 points with a plus-4 rating.

Hurricanes C Seth Jarvis managed a power-play goal late in the third period, but it was much too little and too late. Kochetkov, tabbed as the Game 3 starter after G Frederik Andersen struggled in both losses in Raleigh, wasn’t much better. He conceded 6 goals on 28 shots, including 5 in the ugly third period.

Carolina extended its NHL record to 0-15 in the past 15 games in the conference finals round. Its last victory in the round came in a series-clinching Game 7 win over the Buffalo Sabres back in 2002. The Hurricanes have dropped 7 straight games in the ECF against the Panthers since the 2023 playoffs.

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Hurricanes at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 6:59 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Panthers -185 (bet $185 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes +1.5 (-165) | Panthers -1.5 (+140)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Hurricanes at Panthers projected goalies

Frederik Andersen (7-4-0, 2.01 GAA, .907 SV%, 1 SO – postseason) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (11-4-0, 2.12 GAA, .911 SV%, 3 SO – postseason)

Coach Rod Brind’Amour went with Kochetkov in Game 3, but he wasn’t much better after getting snowed under in the third period. Andersen was stellar in the first 9 starts of the postseason, entering the ECF with a 1.36 GAA. Andersen has struggled in the first 2 games of this series, allowing 9 goals on just 36 shots, but his overall body of work likely draws him back in for this elimination game.

Bobrovsky conceded 4 or more goals in the first 3 games of the second-round series against the Maple Leafs, suffering a pair of losses in Games 1 and 2. However, he has allowed just 8 total goals in the past 7 games, winning 6 of those outings. He has won 7 of the past 8 playoff starts, too.

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Hurricanes at Panthers picks and predictionsPrediction

Panthers 4, Hurricanes 2

The PANTHERS (-185) are slightly over my personal limit for a moneyline wager, but it is perfectly OK to back Florida in Game 4 at this price. If you can use a boost or promo, or toss this into a same-game parlay, it is even better.

Carolina has shown no signs of life in this series. It might have played its best in Game 3, at least for the first 40 minutes, but it wasn’t nearly good enough. Florida is running downhill right now, and gaining momentum toward another Stanley Cup Final appearance.

The PANTHERS -1.5 (+140) are worth a roll of the dice on the puck line, although everyone knows the hardest game of a series to win is the clincher.

Still, the Hurricanes have been unable to solve Bobrovsky, and the only time it has been remotely dangerous on offense is the power play.

OVER 5.5 (-105) is worth playing lightly, but go with a half-unit play at best.

It’s rather unusual to play an Over in an elimination game. Carolina figures to play it close to the vest, with its season on the line. It won’t want to take a lot of unnecessary chances, risking the Panthers going the other way on an odd-man rush to put the Canes into a hole. Conversely, Florida won’t want to do anything silly to give Carolina any signs of life, risking the potential of a Game 5 back in Raleigh.

Still, neither Andersen nor Kochetkov have had any answers for the Panthers, who just seem to keep coming and coming on offense like the waves near the Elbo Room at Fort Lauderdale beach.

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