The Carolina Hurricanes reached their first Stanley Cup Final since 2006 and now sit as -155 favorites against the Vegas Golden Knights, who opened at +130 odds according to DraftKings. Carolina's impressive playoff run through the Eastern Conference culminated in a decisive Game 5 victory, positioning them as slight favorites in the championship series.

Both teams carried short odds throughout the season, with the Hurricanes entering as +750 co-favorites and the Golden Knights at +900. DraftKings listed Carolina at +475 to start the postseason while Vegas was 10-1, meaning sportsbooks face minimal future liability despite heavy betting action. The Hurricanes rank second in handle at DraftKings and top three for wagers at BetMGM.

Sportsbooks kept the Hurricanes short due to strong underlying analytics, though public perception lagged behind because of playoff struggles. Caesars Sportsbook hockey lead noted the team didn't attract significant betting attention despite their metrics. Vegas, meanwhile, draws consistent nightly betting action as the hometown team, though not enough to create major liability concerns.

Game 1 odds show Carolina as -155 moneyline favorites with the total set at 5.5, shaded toward the over at -118. The short series odds reflect both teams' consistent play throughout the playoffs, making this a relatively balanced championship matchup despite Carolina's slight edge.