TD Garden will play host to an Atlantic Division clash as the Boston Bruins welcome the visiting Florida Panthers. The opening face-off takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 31, and it will be shown live on Sportsnet.
Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins Odds
Boston enters the contest as the noticeable favorite with a moneyline of -165. The line for Florida sits at +145, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
The Bruins are 48-28 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 8.8 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL in this young season, is an improvement over the 44-38 record from last years regular season campaign. Through 76 regular season outings, 40 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 34 have gone over and just two have pushed. This season, the teams 26-12 SU at home.
Boston has been able to convert on 23.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.7 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Beantown has been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five games at home. The team has been forced to defend opposition power plays for 8.6 minutes per game over its last five matchups, overall.
Averaging 25.4 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (33-17-5) has been the top goalkeeper for the Bruins this year. If the Bruins decide to rest him, however, it may turn to Anton Khudobin (15-14-14 record, .915 save percentage, 2.53 goals against average).
The Bruins will continue looking for leadership from Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand (84 points) has tallied 34 goals and 50 assists and has recorded multiple points on 26 separate occasions this year. Pastrnak has 32 goals and 44 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 50 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Florida is 39-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 38 of its outings have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the road team, Florida is 16-23 SU.
Florida has converted on 19.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 13th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.2 percent of all penalties.
Florida’s players have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five on the road. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 4.8 minutes per game over their last five outings.
James Reimer (28.4 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Florida. Reimer has 20 wins, 21 losses, and six overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .914 save percentage and 2.92 goals against average this year.
Aleksander Barkov (26 goals, 49 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Panthers.
Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Boston is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 3-3 in shootouts.
- The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five games.
- Eight of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-3 in those games.
- The Bruins this season have registered the seventh-most hits per game (23.8), but that average has climbed to 27.0 over their past five home games.
