Here are tonight’s NHL predictions and best bets for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes.

Vegas Golden Knights (-135) at Carolina Hurricanes (-160)  

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Total 5.5 (Over,-130)/Under 6 (-120)Golden Knights lead series 1-0

8 p.m. ET

For only the second time in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes lost a hockey game. The Canes last lost consecutive games back in January (12.13) and are currently riding a 48-game streak of not losing two in a row. The Hurricanes are 11-0 following a loss over that stretch. Even with those impressive numbers, I have no intention of betting Carolina to win game two. 

Game One against Vegas was just the second time in the postseason the Hurricanes surrendered more than two goals. Unlike their 6-2 loss to Montreal, where Carolina could attribute some of their poor play to their 11-day layoff, that was not the case against the Golden Knights. After jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead, the Golden Knights settled down and, in my opinion, were the better team over the final 57 plus minutes. The Golden Knights have now won seven consecutive games, with their last loss back on May 10 (Game Four vs. Anaheim), a span of 24 days. 

I am going to come back with some of the same props that cashed for me in game one. The Hurricanes have scored the first goal of the first period in six consecutive games and 10 of their 14 games in this year’s playoffs. Overall, Carolina scored the first goal in 12 of the 14 games. The first period Over 1.5 goals has cashed in six straight and nine of the last 11 Hurricanes games and in six of the last nine Golden Knights games. A goal in the first 10 minutes has cashed in 10 of the last 14 Carolina games. Hurricanes goalie Freddie Anderson has surrendered three goals or more in each of his last seven games versus Vegas, and I see no reason why Carolina can’t find its way to scoring two on Vegas goalie Carter Hart, who has given up two goals or more in eight of his last 10 games.

Lastly, I have a couple of player props. The Knights’ Brett Howden scored his playoff-leading 11th goal in Game One and we are still getting great value for his goal prop. Tomas Hertl scored the winning goal in game one and has goals in two of his last three games overall and three of his last four against Carolina. 

I will come back with the same shots on goal prop that I had in game one – Seth Jarvis, Jack Eichel, Pavel Dorofeyev and William Karlsson all for 2+ shots on goal. Eichel has had at least two shots on goal versus Carolina in eight consecutive games and 10 of 15 playoff games. Dorofeyev has had at least two shots on goal in eight straight and five of his last six overall. Karlsson has had two shots on goal or more in four straight, six of nine and seven of his last eight versus Carolina. Seth Jarvis has had two shots on goal or more in 11 of his last 14 playoff games.

NHL Predictions and Best Bets:
Carolina Hurricanes 1st goal/1st period (+115) – ½ unit
Goal in the 1st 10 minutes/Yes (-148) – ½ unit
Knights/Hurricanes 1st period Over 1.5 goals (-125) – 1 unit
Eichel/Dorofeyev/Karlsson/Jarvis – all 2+ shots on goal (+222) – 1.5 units
Both Teams to Score 2+ goals/Vegas +2.5 goals (-123) – 1.5 units
Golden Knights Team Total Over 2.5 (-125) – 1.5 units
Brett Howden anytime goal (+390) – .10 units
Barbashev/Marner/Theodore point parlay (+252) – ¼ unit
Tomas Hertl anytime goal (+360) – .10 units
Shea Theodore/K’Andre Miller point parlay (+284) – .10 units

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