[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins meet Friday for Game 6 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 2nd-round series. The Panthers lead the series 3-2. The opening faceoff at TD Garden is slated for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Florida won Games 2, 3 and 4 but then failed to close out this series when it dropped a taut 2-1 contest in Game 5 Tuesday.
Boston coughed up 6 power-play goals over its 3 straight losses. The Bruins were 4 of 4 on the penalty kill in Game 5.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Panthers at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Panthers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Bruins +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers -1.5 (+180) | Bruins +1.5 (-225)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Panthers at Bruins projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%) vs. Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 SV%)
Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 28 shots Tuesday. He has started all 5 games in this series and logged an .896 SV%.
Swayman had 28 saves on 29 Florida shots on goal in Game 5. After faltering in Games 2 and 3, he has rebounded to clock a .943 SV% in the last 2 games.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Panthers at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 3, Bruins 2
Moneyline
Per OddsShark, the PANTHERS (-145) are 5-2 across their last 7 games at TD Garden.
Florida is worthy of the edge in what we can expect to be tight, low-scoring, late-series playoff hockey. The Panthers are out-chancing the Bruins and in 8 playoff games have scored 3 goals or more 7 times.
Per Hockey-reference.com, in even-strength play, Florida owns a 60% Corsi number in this series. The Panthers have been held to fewer shots as the series has worn on, but that puck-possession number is worthy of attention. And in 5-on-5 play, Florida shooting just 7.6% for the series has the look of a number ripe for regression.
TAKE THE PANTHERS (-145).
Puck line/Against the spread
Late-series games have been a solid Under in these playoffs, and with these clubs, another 2-1 game or something thereabouts would seem to be in the cards. PASS on sliding the Panthers through with a multi-goal margin.
Over/Under
The Under has cashed in the last 2 games and is the play in this one.
Both teams can defend at a high level (both ranked in the NHL’s top 6 in goals-allowed average during the regular season). Swayman should have a lot of confidence, and the tone of this series looks to be going from loose to tight.
BACK THE UNDER 5.5 (-125).
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1369]