- The Carolina Hurricanes are a -123 to -133 moneyline favorite, with Florida priced at +109 to +112 depending on the board.
- The puck line has Carolina at -1.5 goals for +190 to +196, and the total sits at 6 or 6.5.
- Carolina went 29-10-2 at home last season, while Florida went 17-23-1 on the road and missed the playoffs.
- Florida is still +650 to win the Stanley Cup, ahead of Carolina at +750, with captain Aleksander Barkov projected to return.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will raise their second championship banner at Lenovo Center on Tuesday, then begin their title defense as home favorites against the Florida Panthers in the NHL’s first game of the season.
The Board: Moneyline, Puck Line And Total
Carolina’s moneyline varies enough across legal sports betting boards that the same ticket costs $123 or $133 to win $100. Florida pays slightly more than even money at either end.
Laying 1.5 goals with Carolina instead pays $190 to $196 on a $100 bet, but only when the Hurricanes win by two or more. Florida at +1.5 covers with a win or a one-goal loss.
The total is split, with 6 on one board and 6.5 on another. A six-goal game refunds both sides at 6 and counts as an under at 6.5, which is why the over costs more at 6 than at 6.5.
| Bet | Odds | Implies |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes moneyline | -123 to -133 | 55.2% to 57.1% |
| Florida Panthers moneyline | +109 to +112 | 47.8% to 47.2% |
| Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 goals | +190 to +196 | 34.5% to 33.8% |
| Florida Panthers +1.5 goals | -230 to -236 | 69.7% to 70.2% |
| Over 6 goals | -117 | 53.9% |
| Under 6 goals | -103 | 50.7% |
| Over 6.5 goals | +106 | 48.5% |
| Under 6.5 goals | -122 | 55.0% |
Home Ice Carries The Record Gap
Carolina finished 53-22-7 and first in the Metropolitan Division, taking 60 of a possible 82 standings points at home. Florida finished 40-38-4, seventh in the Atlantic Division, and collected 35 of 82 points on the road. Carolina then went 16-3 through the playoffs and beat the Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the Final.
That 13-win edge earns Carolina a price no steeper than -133, which fits a Florida season played without its captain. Barkov missed the entire season after ACL and MCL surgery, and Matthew Tkachuk missed 47 games. A road record built on that roster says little about the group that arrives Tuesday.
Florida Returns Rebuilt
Projected lineups put Barkov between Brady Tkachuk, acquired from the Ottawa Senators on June 21, and Sam Reinhart on Florida’s top line. Jacob Markstrom, acquired from the New Jersey Devils, is projected to start in goal after Sergei Bobrovsky left for the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency. Brandon Bussi is projected in net for Carolina. Brad Marchand (lower body) is listed as injured for Florida and Seth Jarvis (shoulder) for Carolina.
NHL players also lean Florida in the Cup race. In an NHL.com player poll, 15 of 35 picked the Panthers to win it all and six picked Carolina. The Panthers’ +650 matches the number in last week’s Stanley Cup odds preview.
Four more openers follow Tuesday night on the NHL betting slate as the league starts its first 84-game regular season since 1993-94.
