NHL Playoffs - Hurricanes at Penguins NHL Betting Game 1

The Pittsburgh Penguins begin the Eastern Conference finals at home as they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 on Monday at 7:35pm EST on TSN and Versus. Led by superstar Sidney Crosby, the Penguins took out the Washington Capitals in the last round and now they look forward to starting at home against Carolina. Crosby has 12 goals and 21 points in 13 games in this year’s NHL playoffs. The Penguins are trying to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the second consecutive year.

The Hurricanes are well aware that they must contain the Penguins if they are to win this series. "If you sit back against this team, they're just going to tear you apart," Carolina head coach Paul Maurice said, "So we have to find a way to establish our game." NHL playoffs bookmakers have the Penguins -200 favorites at home in NHL odds against the Hurricanes +170 with a NHL betting total of 5.5 UNDER -120 for Game 1. The way Carolina wins games is to play good defense and get great goal-tending out of Cam Ward who has never lost a NHL playoff series in his career. Ward may have to play out of his mind just to keep Carolina in this series considering Pittsburgh is averaging 3.46 goals per game in the NHL playoffs to the Hurricanes' 2.36.

Both Carolina and Pittsburgh benefited from coaching changes this season. Pittsburgh went 18-3-4 after Dan Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien in February while the Hurricanes were great in March and early April. Carolina and Pittsburgh met in early April and the Hurricanes came away with a 3-2 overtime win. They are hoping for a similar result in Game 1 on Monday. "We've got to get to our game early and have a little extra edge, have a little extra snarl," Maurice said. "And I think if we have that, we're going to get our chances and get a better result." Vegas NHL betting odds at Caesars sportsbook have the Penguins -210 NHL hockey betting favorites against the Hurricanes +175 with a betting total of 5.5 UNDER -120.

Hurricanes at Penguins NHL Betting Stats for Game 1

The Hurricanes are 12-4 in NHL betting for their last 16 vs. the Atlantic. The Hurricanes are 1-4 in the NHL playoffs for the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. the Southeast. The Penguins are 57-19 in their last 76 games as a home favorite. The home team is 9-2 in the NHL playoffs for the last 11 meetings between the two teams. The Under is 7-1-2 in NHL betting for the Hurricanes last 10 games as a road underdog. The Under is 9-3-1 in the Hurricanes last 13 Conference Finals games. The Over is 4-0 in the NHL playoffs for the Penguins last 4 overall. The Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh between the two teams.