Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 1 Odds
The Hurricanes are a massive -193 moneyline favorite for Game 1 at NHL betting sites. The Canadiens return at +149. The O/U is set at six goals, and both teams have scored a lot in these playoffs.
The season series was straight dominance from Montreal. They won all three meetings with Carolina, but it’s important to note they’ve played far more games in the playoffs.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 1 Analysis
Carolina has easily been one of the top teams in the playoffs, and it shows in their record. The Hurricanes haven’t lost in two rounds. They swept the Flyers in the conference semifinals and also took out the Ottawa Senators in four in the opening round of the postseason. No one even came close to competing with the Canes, who look poised for a Stanley Cup. Rod Brind’Amour’s team is only averaging three goals per game, but they’ve been terrific defensively, allowing an average of 1.25 goals per contest. Frederik Andersen is a rock in net.
Offensively, Taylor Hall has turned back the clock, leading Carolina with 12 points, including three goals and nine helpers. Jackson Blake also has nine points, while Logan Stankoven’s seven goals lead the Hurricanes in the playoffs. This is a deep, talented team, and they also allowed just two power-play goals through the first two rounds. That will be an interesting storyline, considering Montreal has scored more on the man advantage in the playoffs than any other team.
It’s common knowledge that the Habs are built to contend for many years to come, but it appears they’re ready to potentially make a Cup run right now. Montreal shocked the No. 2 seed Tampa Bay Lightning in round one, eliminating them in seven games. The top-seeded Sabres also pushed the Canadiens to the brink, with Alex Newhook’s OT winner on Monday proving to be the difference-maker that sent Montreal through to their first conference final since 2021.
Lane Hutson has been the leading catalyst for the Habs offensively, notching a team-best 14 points, including 12 assists. Captain Nick Suzuki is right behind him though, scoring four and setting up another nine. 11 different players have collected a minimum of six points in the playoffs, showcasing how many options Montreal has on any given night.
Hurricanes vs Canadiens Game 1 Picks
I expect this to be a phenomenal series, and the Canadiens aren’t about to roll over like Philly and Ottawa. Montreal has a serious shot at winning this series, and they’re the team with momentum at the moment. Sitting for nearly two weeks is not beneficial for Carolina. I’ll take the visitors to snatch Game 1.
Pick: Canadiens +149/TonyBet
