The Florida Panthers travel to meet the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Friday night.
Florida won 3-0 back on November 9 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, as Spencer Knight posted an impressive 40-save shutout. This is the second of three regular-season meetings, and the only one in Raleigh this season.
Carolina enters on a franchise-best 15-game points streak, going 13-0-2, including victories in each of the previous nine outings.
Can the Cats cool off the Canes, making them more of a tropical depression, or will Carolina be able to finish off 2022 with yet another victory? We’ll discuss in our NHL betting picks and predictions for the Panthers vs. Hurricanes on December 30.
Panthers vs Hurricanes best odds
Panthers vs Hurricanes picks and predictions
The Panthers won the President’s Trophy last season, thus setting this seasons expectations high — especially after acquiring Matthew Tkachuk in a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames during the offseason.
Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan, with Florida currently eight points out of a playoff spot, totaling 36 out of a possible 72 points while turning in a .500 record.
The Hurricanes have managed 28 points during their franchise-best points streak since their last regulation loss on November 23 against the Coyotes. Carolina is six points clear of the New Jersey Devils atop the Metropolitan Division.
Antti Raanta has started and won the past three starts, including a 3-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour hasn’t indicated whether he’ll stick with Raanta, or give rookie Pyotr Kochetkov the start.
Whatever "Rod the Bod" decides, it has been a winning proposition in net lately. Raanta is 4-0-0 with a 3.19 GAA and .882 SV% in 5 December starts, while Kochetkov is 10-1-4 with a 1.94 GAA, .928 SV% and three shutouts overall this season. His 1.63 GAA in seven starts and eight appearances in December is hard to beat.
The Panthers have had some issues lighting the lamp lately, although Florida certainly got well Thursday at home against the Montreal Canadiens with seven goals. But Raanta or Kochetkov will shut down the Panthers, while continuing the team’s lengthy point streak.
My best bet: Hurricanes moneyline (-175 at BetMGM)
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Panthers vs Hurricanes moneyline analysis
The Panthers looked sharp Thursday night, giving Sergei Bobrovsky all of the offensive support he could ever want in a 7-2 win over the Canadiens. Now, it hopes Knight can replicate his performance back in November in the first meeting against the Hurricanes.
It’s going to be tough for Florida, however, as this team is just 1-6 in the past seven tries when working on no rest.
While the travel from South Florida to Raleigh isn’t exactly daunting, the Panthers didn’t arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport until 12:56 a.m. ET, meaning they likely didn’t get to their team hotel until about 2-3 a.m. ET. Back-to-back games, especially when travel is required for the following game, is difficult no matter the distance.
The Hurricanes have won 41 of the past 55 games at PNC Arena, too, which is a winning percentage of .745, or nearly three victories in every four tries. In addition, Carolina has won seven straight against the Eastern Conference.
Toss in the fact the Panthers are 15-36-2 in the past 53 trips to Raleigh, and Carolina is worth the risk of laying nearly two times your potential return on the money line.
Panthers vs Hurricanes Over/Under analysis
The Panthers cashed the Over all on their own with seven goals against the Habs, but the Under is 3-1-2 in their past six games overall and 3-0-2 in the past five games inside the Metropolitan Division. The Under is 5-2-2 in the previous nine games for Florida against Eastern Conference teams, as well.
The amazing goaltending of Raanta and Kochetkov has led to plenty of Under results for the Hurricanes lately, too.
Carolina has cashed the Under in seven of the past nine games at PNC Arena, while going 8-2 in the past 10 games inside the Eastern Conference. The Under is also 4-1 in the past five games when working on two days of rest.
The rested Hurricanes should be able to keep the scores down, so playing the home side paired with the Under is a solid parlay play.
Panthers vs Hurricanes betting trend to know
The Hurricanes are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs Hurricanes.
Panthers vs Hurricanes game info
| Location: | PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC |
| Date: | Friday, December 30, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
