A couple of teams currently on losing skids, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins collide at TD Garden in an Eastern Conference showdown. The matchup gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 27, and you’ll be able to view the game live on New England Sports Network.
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins Odds
Carolina (+180) is playing the role of underdog to Boston (-215), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The line for betting the total stands at -110 for the over and -110 for the under.
Boston is 37-23 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.6 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 44-38 record from last year’s regular season campaign. 32 of the team’s 60 games have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 19-11 SU at home.
The Bruins have converted on 19.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated fifth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.1 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 last five home outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays for just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings, in total.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (24-16-4) has been the primary goalkeeper for Boston this season. If the Bruins choose to give him a rest, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy might go with Anton Khudobin (13-10-10 record, .919 save percentage, 2.41 goals against average).
The Bruins will continue relying on leadership from Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand (58 points) has tallied 24 goals and 34 assists and has recorded two or more points 18 times this year. Pastrnak has 22 goals and 33 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 39 contests.
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 27-35 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 62 regular season matches, 34 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just two have pushed. The Hurricanes are 12-18 SU as the away team this season.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 18.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 22nd overall and it’s successfully killed off 79.1 percent of all penalties.
Carolina’s skaters have been penalized only 2.8 times per game in total this season, 2.8 per game over their past five match ups total, and 3.0 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (25.6 saves per game) has been the main choice in goal for Carolina. Ward owns a 17-15-4 record, and has registered a .908 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho (21 goals, 26 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (15 goals, 32 assists) have been the top playmakers for Carolina and will lead the offensive counter for the visiting Hurricanes.
Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins Free Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- Eight of Carolina’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-5 in those games.
- Carolina has scored 2.6 goals per game overall this year, but has been averaging 1.2 goals per matchup over its last five games (0-5 SU over that span).
- The Hurricanes are 16-19 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 21-28 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Boston is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
- Boston could hold the upper hand if it’s a close one late. The team’s 15-10 in games decided by one goal, while Carolina is 10-18 in such games.
- The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five outings.
- Boston is ranked 16th this season with 9.8 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed lately, as it’s averaged 11.6 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.2 giveaways over its last five.
- Carolina skaters have averaged 7.2 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 9.9 giveaways per game (ranked 18th overall).
- The Bruins this season have registered the ninth-most hits in the league (23.7 per game).
