TD Garden plays host to an Atlantic Division tilt as the Boston Bruins welcome the visiting Florida Panthers. It’s the fourth and final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. The action will get going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 8, and you can view it live on Sportsnet.
Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Boston is 50-31 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 6.5 units this year. That win percentage, ranked fifth in the league so far in the early season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during last years regular season (44-38). Through 81 regular season contests, 42 of its games have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just three have pushed. This season, the team is 28-12 SU at home.
The Bruins have been able to convert on 23.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked third overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.5 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five matchups. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 25.8 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (34-19-5) has been the best goalkeeper for the Bruins this season. If Boston chooses to give him a rest, however, the team could go with Anton Khudobin (16-15-15 record, .913 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will each lead the charge for the Bruins. Marchand (85 points) is up to 34 goals and 51 assists and has recorded multiple points in 27 different games this year. Pastrnak has 34 goals and 45 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 53 contests.
On the other bench, Florida is 43-38 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 2.0 units this season. Through 81 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone under the total, while 38 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Panthers are 16-24 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Panthers have converted on 19.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 16th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.4 percent of all penalties.
Florida’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 5.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (.912 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Florida. Reimer is averaging 28.4 saves per game and has 21 wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Aleksander Barkov (27 goals, 51 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Panthers.
Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-3 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in four of Florida’s last five outings.
- This game features two clubs that have pounded opposing nets with shots. Florida has registered the leagues third-most shots on goal (34.5) and Boston has attempted the ninth-most (32.8).
- Over Boston’s last ten outings, four of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 3-1 in those games).
- The Bruins this season have registered the ninth-most hits per game (23.4).
