The Florida Panthers (48-24-5) visit the Boston Bruins (45-17-15) Saturday at TD Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Bruins lead 3-0
The Panthers rolled up an impressive 6-0 win on the road against the Ottawa Senators last time out Thursday, pushing against the total. Florida had dropped the 1st 2 stops on the trip in Toronto (6-4) and in Montreal (5-3), and the Over cashed in both outings.
These teams just met March 26 in Sunrise, with the Bruins posting a 4-3 win as moderate underdogs (+125) as the Over (6) connected. The B’s have won all 3 meetings in this series, including the only previous battle in Boston Oct. 30, a 3-2 win in overtime as the Under (6) cashed.
The Bruins pounded the Carolina Hurricanes on the road last time out Thursday, and Boston has won 3 in a row while cashing the Under in 4 consecutive outings. On home ice, Boston is 4-2 in the past 6 Games while cashing the Over in 3 straight.
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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 3:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Panthers +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Bruins -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +1.5 (-250) | Bruins -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Panthers at Bruins projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (34-17-3, 2.42 GAA, .913 SV%, 5 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (20-9-7, 2.57 GAA, .917 SV%, 2 SO)
Bobrovsky kicked aside all 30 shots he faced in Ottawa Thursday for his 5th shutout of the season in the 6-0 win. He rebounded nicely after coughing up 5 goals on 16 shots in Toronto Monday, a Game which saw him pulled after 2 periods.
Bob allowed 4 goals on just 21 shots in the 4-3 loss in Sunrise in the most recent meeting with the B’s March 26. He was also in between the pipes for the 3-1 loss at home Nov. 22, allowing 3 goals on 25 shots. Bobrovsky allowed 3 goals on 26 shots in the OTL Oct. 30 in South Florida, too.
Ullmark is also coming off a road shutout, turning back all 31 shots he faced against the Nashville Predators Tuesday in his most recent outing. He has allowed 3 or fewer goals in 7 consecutive starts dating back to March 5.
Ullmark allowed just a single goal on 28 shots in a 3-1 win in Florida Nov. 22, and he allowed 2 goals on 37 shots in a 3-2 OTW Oct. 30 at TD Garden.
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Panthers at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Panthers 2
Moneyline
The BRUINS (-120) are a good play as small favorites on home ice. While 2 of the 1st 3 meetings have been decided by a single goal, the B’s have won all 3 matchups so far this season.
Until the Panthers (+100) figure out a way to get over the hump, you have to continue to back the B’s, especially with this little of risk.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BRUINS -1.5 (+200) are worth a roll of the dice for the chance to potentially double up.
This play comes with plenty of risk, as Boston has won 3 in a row in the series, but it is 0-4 on the puck line as a favorite in the past 4 tries against Florida. The only game it won in the past 6 meetings, including 3 playoff games, was a 3-1 win in Florida as a slight underdog Nov. 22.
Still, Boston is running hot, posting 3 straight wins against 3 playoff contenders, outscoring the opposition 10-3 in the span.
Over/Under
OVER 5.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under has cashed in 4 straight games for Boston, although the offense has been good for 3.4 goals per game (GPG) in the previous 3 outings.
For Florida, the Over is 2-0-1 in the past 3 contests, lighting the lamp 13 times across the span for an average of 4.4 GPG. The Panthers got the shutout in Ottawa, but they allowed 11 goals in the 2 games prior to that, and Florida has allowed 3 or more goals in 9 of the past 12 outings.
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