LAS VEGAS — There are 14 games on the card tonight, and there are a pair of games that conceivably could be previews for the Stanley Cup Final.
First up, the defending champion Florida Panthers visit the Washington Capitals, giving us a clash of division leaders from the Eastern Conference. The Panthers are laying the low price, leaving intrigue to an enticing plus-price with the home underdog Caps.
Then there’s the Carolina Hurricanes traveling north of the border looking to put a tariff on the Winnipeg Jets’ goal production. The ‘Canes are one of the top contenders to dethrone the Panthers, while the Jets are the league’s No. 1 team at the moment.
It’s the second game for me, where I see value in the number.
Let’s do a deep dive into this one:
WHY CAROLINA: So why is it the Hurricanes are laying the price on the road to the NHL points leader? Well, they’ll have a chance to flex their offensive muscles tonight since the Jets won’t have their Vezina-favorite goaltender in net. Instead of having to face Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck, the ‘Canes will face Eric Comrie. That will spark this team early on.
WHY WINNIPEG: First of all, the streaking Jets are on an 8-2 roll and own a solid 20-5-3 record on home ice. And when you’re skating with the confidence the Jets have right now, it also helps to know they swept the two meetings last season and have won three of the last four meetings the past two seasons, including both in Winnipeg.
All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
THE PICK: HURRICANES -1.5, +170 — Not only am I playing Carolina to beat the NHL-leading Jets, but I like the Hurricanes to win on the puck line. The fact they’ll bring their high-scoring act into this arena and face Comrie is good enough for me. I mean, Comrie opened the season 3-0 to lend support when Hellebuyck needed it. But since Nov. 14, 2024, he is 1-7-1 and has allowed 25 goals. His save percentage is .901 in that span. There’s a reason the ‘Canes are heavy favorites, and I’m backing them on the puck line.
(Season Record: 14-22-1, Net: -1020$, based on 100$ units)
