Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Two potential Stanley Cup contenders, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, will face off this evening in North Carolina. The hosts are leading not just the Metropolitan Division, but also the entire Eastern Conference, while the Florida Panthers have hit a bit of a rough patch.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are eagerly anticipating the return of one of their two main goaltender, Pyotr Kochetkov. With Spencer Martin in goal, games have been entertaining, albeit not always efficient. Since both of the Hurricanes' goalies have been sidelined, they’ve played four matches with a combined total of 31 goals scored. Seth Jarvis, who recently recovered from injury, also joined the scoring fest. The talented forward slotted into the top line and notched up four points in just two games.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers have no injury concerns on the defensive front, yet that hasn't shielded them from a flood of goals against. In November alone, they conceded 42 goals, more than all but two teams in the league. Meanwhile, their attacking leaders continue to consistently rack up points. Notably, elite sniper Sam Reinhart (17+15) is on a record-setting pace for himself. Should he maintain this form, which is not out of the question, he's on target to end the regular season with over 60 goals.
Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers Prediction
There's uncertainty around whether Kochetkov will play, so let’s base our prediction on the current situation. Both the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have been playing with a wild, high-scoring intensity lately and are quite capable of engaging in an offensive shootout. Both sides concede many but also find the net frequently, with substantial firepower to ramp up as the game progresses. Therefore, we're opting for a total over.
