The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights are set to battle in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, have dominated this postseason, suffering only one loss across three rounds. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have gained momentum, sweeping the Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the West, out of the Conference Finals.

As the game approaches, the latest odds indicate:

• Hurricanes: -155 (risk $155 to win $100)
• Golden Knights: +128 (underdogs)
• Over/Under: 5.5 goals

The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times, achieving a +568 return on its top-rated money-line NHL picks. This model has shown strong performance, guiding bettors to substantial returns throughout the playoffs.

Key predictions from the model include:

• The total goals scored is projected to exceed 5.5, hitting in 60.9% of the Hurricanes' home games this season and 56.7% in games with Carter Hart in goal for the Knights.
• An average of 0.5 points is expected from key players including Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas, while Shayne Gostisbehere and Sebastian Aho from Carolina are also anticipated to contribute similarly.
• The combined goals projected between both teams is 6.4, with the Over hitting in 59.4% of simulations.

For those interested in making informed betting decisions, the model identifies one side of the money line as particularly valuable. Full insights and picks can be found at SportsLine.