Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal Canadiens (+200) at Carolina Hurricanes (-250)

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Total 5.5 (-110)Hurricanes lead series 3-1

8 p.m. ET

The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from making their first trip to the Cup Final since winning it all in 2006. After dropping the opening game of the series (6-2), the Canes have rattled off three consecutive wins and have limited the Canadiens to two goals or fewer and 18 shots on goal or fewer in each of the three victories. 

Chasing the game is never a good idea when playing Carolina, and that is exactly what Montreal has done, giving up the first goal (all in the first period) in all four games of this series. In fact, Carolina has struck first in the opening 20 minutes in nine of their 12 playoff games. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in all four games of the series and in 11 consecutive Montreal playoff games. Game Four marked the first time in 11 Canadiens games that there was not a goal scored in the first 10 minutes. Carolina games had a goal scored in the opening 10 minutes in five of the last seven games. The Canes have outshot the Canadiens 110-45 in the last three games combined, by margins of 26, 26 and 14, and with that, I am on Carolina to outshoot Montreal by (-12.5 shots), available at FanDuel.

Montreal’s Alexandre Carrier has registered three blocked shots or more in five straight and six of the last seven games. Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake has had three shots on goal or more in five of the last seven games. His teammate Seth Jarvis has had three shots on goal or more in six of the last seven games.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes 1st goal/1st period (+100) – 1 unit
Carolina Hurricanes (-12.5 shots on goal) more than Canadiens (-108) – 1 unit
1st period Over 1.5 goals (106) – 1 unit
1st period Goal first 10 minutes (-134) – 1 unit
Alexandre Carrier 3+ blocks/Jarvis and Blake each 3+ shots on goal (+395) – ½ unit
Jackson Blake 3+ shots on goal (+105) – 1.5 units

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