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Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers Matchup 4/5/18

Bruins at Panthers
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The BB&T Center will be the site for an Atlantic Division matchup as the Florida Panthers take on the visiting Boston Bruins. This one will get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 5 and it is being televised live on Sportsnet 360.

Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers Odds

Boston (-125) is currently favored over Florida (+105), and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at an even 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 under, +100 over.

Boston is 49-30 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 79 regular season matches, 41 of its games have gone under the total, while 35 have gone over and just three have pushed. As a road team this season, the Bruins are 22-18 SU.

Boston has converted on 23.3 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.

The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

With a .919 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (34-18-5) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to rest him, however, Boston might go with Anton Khudobin (15-15-7 record, .913 save percentage, 2.58 goals against average).

Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Bruins. Marchand has 84 points on 34 goals and 50 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 27 different games. Pastrnak has 33 goals and 45 assists to his name, and has registered a point in 53 games.

Florida is 41-38 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 1.0 unit this season. Through 79 regular season contests, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 38 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 25-14 SU as the home team this year.

The Panthers have converted on just 19.1 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all opponent power plays.

Florida players have been penalized 4.1 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

James Reimer has stopped 28.1 shots per game as the top selection in goal for the Panthers. Reimer has 20 wins, 22 losses, and six OT losses to his name and has maintained a pedestrian 3.00 goals against average and a .911 save percentage this year.

The home team offense will be led by Aleksander Barkov (26 goals, 51 assists).

Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions

Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over

Notes

Betting Notes

Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-3 in shootouts.

The total has gone under in three of Florida’s last five games.

Two offenses that have clobbered opponents’ goalies with shots, Boston has registered the league’s ninth-most shots on goal (32.8) while Florida has attempted the second-most (34.6).

Four of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 3-1 in those games.

Boston skaters have accounted for the league’s ninth-most hits per game (23.5), but that number’s down to just 18.8 hits over their last five away games.

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