Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 Pick – 5/28/2025

The Eastern Conference Final resumes on Wednesday night with Game 5 at Lenovo Center, where the Carolina Hurricanes will try to stay alive against the Florida Panthers. Florida still owns a 3-1 series edge thanks to an offensive barrage that produced 16 goals in the first three games, but Carolina’s 3-0 shutout on Monday injected new life into the series and guaranteed at least one more tilt in Raleigh. Bettors get a fascinating showdown between a Panthers club that looks Cup-caliber on most nights and a Hurricanes team drawing energy from a loud home crowd and newfound confidence after Frederik Andersen’s flawless performance in Game 4.

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 Preview

The Panthers arrive with an 11-5 postseason record, headlined by Sergei Bobrovsky (2.05 GAA, .914 SV%) and an attack paced by captain Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. Florida averaged 3.6 goals across the first 16 playoff games and is converting 25% of its power-play chances. One key storyline is Sam Reinhart’s status; the 57-goal regular-season sniper has missed the last two outings with an upper-body issue but skated Tuesday and is considered a game-time decision.

Carolina counters with an 9-5 mark in these playoffs. Andersen’s overall numbers still shine (1.84 GAA, .914 SV%) despite two rough nights to open the series. The Hurricanes rely on balanced scoring. Sebastian Aho has 13 points, rookie Logan Stankoven owns 5 goals and veteran Andrei Svechnikov is creating steady pressure down low. Rod Brind’Amour’s group limited Florida to 20 shots in Game 4 by clogging the middle of the ice and winning 57% of faceoffs.

Through four games the Panthers hold a 16-7 goal advantage, yet natural-stat-trick data shows scoring-chance share is nearly even (50.6% in Florida’s favor). The difference has been finishing skill: Florida sports a 14.3 shooting rate in the series, while Carolina sits at 6.1. If the Hurricanes can sustain Monday’s shot-suppression while finishing a bit more efficiently, another upset is well within reach.

Betting Insights

• Moneyline: Panthers −120, Hurricanes +100 (best prices as of Wednesday morning).
• Puck line: Panthers −1.5 (+205), Hurricanes +1.5 (−260).
• Total: 5.5 goals — Over +106, Under −130.
• Florida is 8-3 on the road this postseason and has cashed the moneyline in 15 of its last 20 away contests dating back to March 1.
• Carolina is 31-12-2 at home in all games this season and postseason combined but just 2-4 in its past 6 against the Panthers.
• The Under is 9-2 across the Panthers’ previous 11 playoff trips and 7-3 in the Hurricanes’ last 10 overall.
• Bobrovsky has surrendered 2 or fewer in 9 of 16 playoff starts; Andersen has posted a .950 save rate in his last 4 appearances in Raleigh.
• Alexander Barkov has delivered 10 points in the series and sits at +800 for the Conn Smythe, trailing only Bobrovsky (+200).

Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes Game 5 Prediction

The 3-1 series scoreboard can hide how thin the margin really is. Game 1 hinged on a late empty-netter, and high-danger chances are essentially deadlocked. Carolina’s willingness to trap and chip pucks behind Florida’s defensemen in Game 4 finally slowed the Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk trio, and the return to home ice gives Brind’Amour last-change advantages for line deployment.

That said, Bobrovsky’s calm play, plus Florida’s overall depth, still tilt the balance slightly toward the visitors. Even if Reinhart remains sidelined, the Panthers can roll three lines capable of scoring and have out-hit Carolina 113-94 through four outings. Paul Maurice’s group has also owned special teams, outperforming Carolina on the power play.

Expect a cautious first period reminiscent of Monday, but as the ice opens Matthew Tkachuk’s play-making and Sam Bennett’s net-front presence should create enough Grade-A looks to break through. Meanwhile, Bobrovsky has held Jordan Staal’s line to 1 goal on 18 shots in the series and thrives in elimination-chance games (5-1 career clinchers).

Pick: Panthers moneyline −120. The Under 5.5 at −130 also merits consideration given both coaches’ conservative adjustments, but the strongest edge lies with Florida finishing the series behind superior goaltending and depth scoring.

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