The Carolina Hurricanes try to finish their NHL-record 13-game shedding streak within the Jap Convention Last and even the sequence at one win apiece once they host the reigning champion Florida Panthers for Recreation 2 because the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs proceed Thursday. Carolina has not recorded a win within the convention remaining since defeating the Buffalo Sabres in seven video games in 2006, because it was swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009), Boston Bruins (2019) and Florida (2023) in its subsequent three appearances earlier than dropping the opener of this 12 months’s sequence in opposition to the Panthers.

Carter Verhaeghe recorded a aim and an help as Florida posted a 5-2 victory in Recreation 1 on Tuesday. A complete of 11 gamers landed on the scoresheet for the Panthers, who’ve outscored their opponents 38-18 whereas going 6-2 on the street this postseason.

Seth Jarvis helped arrange each objectives within the loss for the Hurricanes, who entered the Jap Convention Last with a 5-0 document at house in these playoffs. The 5 tallies allowed had been solely two fewer than the entire quantity Carolina surrendered in its five-game victory over the top-seeded Washington Capitals within the second spherical.

Florida, which has scored 17 objectives and allowed solely 4 in its final three video games away from house, received all six of the earlier best-of-seven sequence through which it was victorious in Recreation 1 on the street.

Listed here are some gamers with worth to think about when making NHL participant props for Recreation 2 of the Jap Convention Last on Thursday.

Sam Bennett, Panthers: Anytime aim scorer (+295, DraftKings)

Bennett set a postseason profession excessive with seven objectives in 19 video games final 12 months and already has matched it in 13 contests throughout these playoffs. The 28-year-old middle, who tallied twice in three regular-season conferences with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, has been following an fascinating scoring sample this postseason. He has gone two video games with a aim after which two with out one thrice to date, starting with Florida’s first two contests in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning within the first spherical. In the event you imagine this development will proceed, Bennett ought to convert on Thursday as he scored within the sequence opener. A lot stranger issues have occurred in postseason historical past, so it isn’t loopy to guess on him to extend his team-leading playoff whole to eight objectives.

Anton Lundell, Panthers: Over 0.5 factors (+140, bet365)

Lundell is certainly one of eight gamers that has reached double figures in factors for Florida this postseason. The 23-year-old Finnish middle has been quiet of late, recording solely two factors over his final six contests following a four-game streak throughout which he registered three objectives and 5 assists. However Lundell notched 4 factors in three conferences with Carolina through the common season and is a strong option to get one in Recreation 2 after being certainly one of simply 4 Panthers forwards that did not make his method onto the scoresheet within the sequence opener.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Hurricanes: Over 0.5 factors (+115, bet365)

Gostisbehere has been one of many high offensive defensemen this postseason as he ranks fourth within the league with eight factors in 11 video games. The 32-year-old amassed a complete of eight factors in his earlier 32 profession playoff contests. Gostisbehere has landed on the scoresheet in seven video games total this postseason and 4 of his final 5. After letting me down twice beforehand, he got here by with an help in opposition to the Panthers in Recreation 1. I like him to document no less than one level once more Thursday.

Eetu Luostarinen, Panthers: Over 0.5 factors (+160, BetMGM)

Luostarinen’s identify doesn’t instantly come to thoughts when you consider gamers on the Panthers that may get issues finished offensively. But the 26-year-old Finnish middle leads Florida and is tied for sixth within the NHL with 13 factors in as many video games after getting into this postseason with 15 factors in 50 profession playoff contests. Luostarinen, who additionally shares the staff lead with 9 assists, has notched 4 factors over his final two video games. He scored a aim within the sequence opener in opposition to Carolina, which chosen him within the second spherical of the 2017 NHL Draft however dealt him to the Panthers on the 2020 commerce deadline. Luostarinen has registered no less than one level in seven of his final 10 contests and I imagine he’ll get one in Recreation 2.

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