The Hurricanes will host the Canadiens on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, with puck drop set for 8:00 p.m. ET. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Carolina is a -198 home favorite on the Moneyline, and the game’s total is set at O/U 5.5 goals.

Below, I’ll break down my top prediction and pick for Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Game 1.

Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Game 1 prediction, preview

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes went a perfect 8-for-8 through the first two rounds, and they last played a game on May 9, which gives them nine extra days of rest than the Canadiens. Carolina handled Ottawa and Philadelphia handedly, and although there were a few competitive games sprinkled in, the club showed the rest of the league that it thrives on pressure and intense playoff situations. This team is no stranger to high-stakes playoff series, having made the Eastern Conference Final in three of the previous seven seasons, but it has failed to get over the hump and make the Stanley Cup Final.

Carolina is incredibly deep, elite on special teams, and has received superb goaltending from veteran Frederik Andersen. Andersen recorded two shutouts across the first two rounds and sports a dazzling 1.12 GAA and .950 SV% through eight total starts. Montreal’s offensive attack will certainly test him more than both Ottawa and Philadelphia did, but it’s going to be tough to beat a Carolina team that is seemingly built to slow it down with elite defense and special teams play. The Hurricanes rank behind only the Avalanche in xGoals per 60, but it’s worth noting that they rank last among the remaining postseason teams in goals per 60. It’s also worth noting that the Hurricanes dropped all three regular-season matchups against the Canadiens, being out-scored, 15 to 8.

Montreal Canadiens

This Canadiens team has had a completely opposite postseason from the Hurricanes, with both of its series going the distance to seven games. It took a miracle goal in Game 7 from Alex Newhook for Montreal to advance past Tampa Bay in the first round, a game in which Montreal recorded nine (!) shots on goal. Then, Newhook did it again and scored in overtime in Game 7 to advance past the Sabres in the second round.

Montreal’s postseason run has been all about opportune goaltending from Jakub Dobes and production across the board from each of its four forward lines. Fatigue may catch up to Dobes eventually, as he has started all 14 games thus far, but he won all three games against the Hurricanes during the regular season, while sporting a 2.67 GAA and .922 SV%. The Canadiens found their legs on the man advantage in the second round, netting at least one power play goal in six of seven games, but their hands will likely be full against a Hurricanes’ penalty kill unit that killed 2-of-40 opportunities through the first two rounds.

Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Game 1 pick, best bet

Best Bet: UNDER 5.5 Total Goals (+110)

The goaltending in this series should be top-notch, and I’m especially banking on Dobes’ regular-season success against the Hurricanes. If I had to pick a side, I’d lean Carolina, given the rest advantage and its top regular-season home record of 29-10-2, but there is some serious value here on the under. I’d expect the scoring to increase as the series progresses, but Game 1s tend to be lower-scoring as both teams will take fewer risks and try to feel each other out first.