The series is tied at two apiece, with the Hurricanes ready to host the Golden Knights on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Carolina is a -162 home favorite on the Moneyline, and the game’s total is set at O/U 6.5 goals.
Below, I’ll provide a top prediction and pick for Thursday night’s Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights Game 5 tilt.
Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights Game 5 prediction, preview
Carolina Hurricanes
What a series this has been thus far, with two games requiring overtime and all four games eclipsing the total, set at O/U 6.5 goals. Game 4 was the first game of the series that was not decided by one goal, as Carolina beat Vegas 5-3 on the road, thanks to a two-goal game from veteran Jordan Staal. The club made a goaltending change, too, giving Brandon Bussi his first career playoff start. Bussi stopped 18-of-21 shots in Game 4, following a valiant effort in Game 3 when he came in for Frederik Andersen, who allowed four goals across the first 16 shots he faced.
While the Hurricanes have lost the even-strength battle thus far (14 to 12), they’ve made up for it on special teams, scoring four power play goals and holding the Golden Knights to just one power play goal across 12 opportunities. Carolina’s Hall-Stankoven-Blake line has been unreal the entire postseason with a whopping 15 goals across 17 games together, and both Stankoven and Blake found the back of the net in Game 4. It also certainly helps that the series shifts back to Raleigh tonight, as the club sported a league-best 29-10-2 home record during the regular season.
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas has star-studded lines, and it has received depth production from both its forward and defensive lines. Mitch Marner is on another level right now with eight points through the first four games, and Brett Howden continues to find the back of the net consistently. The Golden Knights sport a lower 5v5 Corsi% thus far, but they haven’t backed down whatsoever, and I’m sure they’ll come out of the gates ready to test Bussi, who is expected to start between the pipes again tonight.
Perhaps the biggest development for the club was Carter Hart’s stellar play throughout the first three rounds; however, he has come back down to Earth thus far. Entering the series, Hart sported a 2.30 GAA and .922 SV%. So far in the Stanley Cup Final, he sports a 4.00 GAA and .861 SV%. Carolina is bringing the heat and led the league in 5v5 high-danger chances in both the regular season and postseason so far.
Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights Game 5 pick, best bet
The betting splits on DraftKings Sportsbook are near-even splits, with 51% of the bets and 49% of the handle lying with the Hurricanes on the Moneyline at -162. I do think Carolina has a statement win in front of its rowdy fanbase, but given the overall competitive nature in this series, it is a dangerous game to back a team on the Moneyline, especially when the total, set at O/U 6.5 goals, has hit in all four games thus far. Both goaltenders look sorta shaky, while both offenses are littered with talent. Plus, it is a plus-money play, and who doesn’t love plus odds?
