SportsLine's projection model unveiled its first‑game picks for the 2026 Stanley Cup Final pitting the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes open as -155 favorites, while the Knights are +128 underdogs on the money line. Both franchises chase their second championship as Game 1 begins Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET at Raleigh’s Lenovo Center.

Running 10,000 simulations, the model forecasts a combined 6.4 goals and backs the over on the 5.5‑goal total in 59.4% of scenarios. It credits Vegas forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Pavel Dorofeyev with 0.5 points each, while Carolina’s Shayne Gostisbehere and Sebastian Aho post slightly higher averages.

The projection lists the Hurricanes -1.5 puck‑line at +164 as the prime value play, noting the over has struck in 60.9% of Carolina’s home games and 56.7% of Vegas outings when Carter Hart guards the net. Those trends suggest a high‑scoring affair could swing the early series momentum.

SportsLine touts a $568 return on its top‑rated money‑line picks this season, underscoring the profitability of its data‑driven approach. With the odds set and the over/under tilted toward scoring, disciplined bettors can exploit the model’s insights as the Knights and Hurricanes vie for the coveted cup.