Boston Bruins (47-20-15) vs. Florida Panthers (52-24-6)
As the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs heat up, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers meet on May 14 in Game 5 of Eastern Conference’s second round. Florida currently leads this series 2-1 and that places additional pressure on Bruins to even out their record and keep pace with Florida. Both sides have displayed exceptional play this season but this game could prove pivotal as both seek the ultimate prize – so keeping tabs on both heavyweights is critical when selecting expert free picks of this matchup for NHL Stanley Cup expert predictions.
The Boston Bruins offensive lineup, led by left wings Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk and right wing David Pastrnak has been formidable this postseason. Marchand has earned 10 points through 10 games while DeBrusk boasted an outstanding 23.8 shooting percentage; both players played key roles in penetrating defenses. However, Boston’s success will depend upon being able to exploit any gaps or weaknesses in Florida’s defensive zone while taking advantage of any power-play opportunities presented.
Florida Panthers’ offense has proven itself strong this postseason under Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov’s leadership, who together have amassed 25 points this postseason. Their ability to consistently set up plays for scoring has been essential in Florida’s strategy against Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman who boasts an outstanding 0.931 save percentage; to take down Boston they will need aggressive offensive play while using their top scorers against Swayman while exploiting any gaps in Boston’s defensive coverage.
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Amerant Bank Arena |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman vs. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky
Jeremy Swayman has proven himself an essential cog in Boston Bruins’ postseason success this season, amassing an outstanding save percentage of 0.931 across nine games and an outstanding goals against average of 2.19 indicating his ability to stop some of the league’s premier scorers.
Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers has both shown flashes of brilliance and moments of weakness with an average save percentage of only 0.892 (lower than his career average), yet still managed to secure 6 wins out of 8 games despite not playing his best hockey. Bobrovsky will prove invaluable as Florida seeks to extend their advantage in this series.
Swayman and Bobrovsky could prove decisive in this close series, each providing steady reliability while the latter brings veteran experience and clutch performances to bear under high levels of playoff pressure. How each goaltender reacts will likely decide this closely-contested Eastern Conference showdown.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
Bettors looking ahead to this pivotal matchup should keep an eye out as game day draws near for updates regarding betting odds that reflect how each team’s strengths and weaknesses might alter both spread and total totals.
Boston Bruins Betting Trends
Boston has shown some inconsistency recently, going 2-4 SU in their last six games but remaining strong at home with an 8-1 SU record over their last 9 Sunday home matches. Boston is known to produce low scoring outcomes often leading to under betting strategies due to Swayman’s solid goaltending skills.
Florida Panthers Betting Trends
Florida has been dominant over their last 12 games, winning 10 outright wins outright and 2-5 straight up records against Boston (in their past 7 encounters). Their consistent scoring-over trend may continue as Florida boasts both powerful offense and weak goaltending this postseason.
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers 5/14/24 Betting Picks
Based on each team’s recent performance and statistical trends, this game should be closely contested. To maximize their advantage at home ice, Boston must utilize their home advantage with goaltender Tuukka Rask while Florida Panthers aim for more consistent goaltending from Bobrovsky.
Bettors using top bookie software should keep in mind performance trends and goaltending statistics when placing bets, keeping in mind which team might benefit more from home advantage or having an experienced goaltender; prop bets on key players like Marchand or Tkachuk for points scored might offer extra value.
