Home ice has proven to be a disadvantage during this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following the Golden Knights' 5-4 victory over the Hurricanes in Game 1, road teams have recorded a winning percentage of .532, marking the third-best since the NHL-WHA merger in 1979. This trend poses challenges for Carolina, which aims to level the series against Vegas in Game 2 on Thursday night at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C.. The Canes enter as -165 money line favorites, while the Golden Knights are +138 underdogs.

Key Matchup Details

• Game: Golden Knights at Hurricanes
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Location: Raleigh, N.C.
• TV: ABC
• Stream: Fubo (Try for free)

Expert Insights:

• Matt Severance highlights that Carolina rarely loses consecutive games, noting their last back-to-back losses in Raleigh occurred at the start of the year.
• The SportsLine Projection Model gives Vegas a 48.0% chance to win and grades their money line at +139.

Additional Sports Highlights

Aside from the Stanley Cup Final, Thursday's sporting landscape includes five primetime MLB games:

• Athletics at Cubs: Cubs -136, expected to avoid a sweep.
• Pirates at Astros: Astros favored with a 68.0% chance to cover +1.5.
• Dodgers at Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks +1.5, with a 63.0% chance to cover.

Looking Ahead

NBA Finals Game 2 features the Knicks at Spurs on Friday, following a dominant Game 1 victory for New York. The SportsLine Projection Model predicts a 53.0% chance for the Knicks to cover +5.5.