The Boston Bruins (32-20-4) and Florida Panthers (28-24-3) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Panthers are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6.5 (-107o / -108u). The Panthers are a -137 favorite to win outright, while the Bruins are +115 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bruins vs. Panthers predictions and NHL picks.
Bruins vs. Panthers Odds, Pick
| Bruins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -214 | 6.5 -107o / -108u | +115 |
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +175 | 6.5 -107o / -108u | -137 |
- Bruins vs. Panthers Spread: Panthers -1.5 (+175 ), Bruins +1.5 (-214)
- Bruins vs. Panthers Over/Under: 6.5 (-107o / -108u)
- Bruins vs. Panthers Moneyline: Bruins +115, Panthers -137
Bruins vs. Panthers Preview
Boston Bruins
Sunday was a humbling experience for the Bruins.
Come into Tampa in front of 65,000 people and chop out a 5-1 lead midway through the game against the Lightning, only for the Bolts to come storming in with a comeback to tie and then lose in a shootout.
Not ideal for a team that’s clinging to a Wild Card spot at this point in the season.
Luckily for the B’s, this will be the final game of their first half before the Olympics begin, and the ultimate collapse couldn’t have happened at a better time, so the boys could regroup. Because prior. Boston had secured points in 11 of its past 12 games.
But I noticed that the Bruins' 5-on-5 play was starting to dwindle, as in the past three weeks, they’re playing to a 49.74 xGF% and 2.69 xGA/60. However, if you measure these stats by a two-week margin, you’ll notice that their expected goals drops, but their xGA/60 skyrockets to 3.01.
In terms of special teams, Boston had truly hung its team out to dry, as it found itself on the penalty kill a total of eight times. However, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise given that the B’s are the league’s most penalized team, topped with a bottom-10 penalty kill.
I would expect Jeremy Swayman to get the nod before he heads over to Italy for the Olympics. Swayman has been solid all season, but I’ve noticed a dip in his efficiency.
In his last 10 games, he’s playing to a 6.1 GSAx and a .901 SV%.
Florida Panthers
It’s too early to call it a season for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, but it’s not looking great.
Being nine points out of the playoffs with 27 games to go isn’t easy, but a win against the B’s, who own that final playoff spot, would certainly help.
But here’s the problem with the Panthers: give Sergei Bobrovsky a rest for heaven’s sake (yes, I understand he’ll have a two-week break, but that’s besides the point).
When you’re throwing a 37-year-old goaltender, who’s played approximately 270 games in three years, you start to develop clear weaknesses, which is why I’m bearish on the Cats until further notice.
Luckily, Florida’s 5-on-5 defense has been strong, playing to a third-best 2.17 xGA/60 since January 21, even without Seth Jones. Also, it has Matthew Tkachuk back from missing the first half of the season, and he’s boosted its offense by a decent margin.
There has also been a semi-slowdown from Brad Marchand, who had led the team in scoring for the majority of the season. Granted, he did have a three-point night a week and a half ago, but his output hasn’t been as consistent as we’re used to seeing.
However, Marchand is questionable for tonight’s game, along with Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell.
Bruins vs. Panthers Prediction
I’m going to be paying close attention to the lineups before puck drop. If Marchand, Bennett, and Lundell are all out, that could be significant for Florida.
The uncertainty is preventing me from putting any significant cash on this game, and I am not crazy about Boston’s record on the road.
Especially after the deflating loss on Sunday, heading into Sunrise with an 11-12-3 record away from TD Garden is alarming.
Three of the four losses Florida endured were one-goal games, which tell me that it’s right on the cusp. Tkachuk being back is a huge boost, and I worry that the Bruins are going to come into this game deflated.
It’s a high number for me at least, but I think it’s the safe pick. Back the Panthers before heading a couple of hours north to Tampa.
Pick: Florida Panthers ML
