The Bruins fended off a fierce offensive attack by the Panthers to claim a 6-2 win in Game 4 on Sunday to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Hobbled by injuries and goaltending concerns, the Panthers have now lost five of their past six games overall, scoring two or fewer goals on four occasions over that stretch.

Poised to advance to the second round for the fifth time in six years, the Bruins look to Wednesday’s matchup perched as heavy -262 favourites on the NHL odds. Florida lags as a +208 underdog, and -120 odds favour the total going OVER 6.0.

Panthers vs. Bruins NHL Betting Odds

After claiming victory in both their dates with the Panthers in Florida this past weekend, the bruins have now earned the win in nine of 13 head-to-head meetings with their Atlantic Division rivals. Boston has gone 5-1 straight up in six home dates over that stretch, and has also topped the Panthers by multi-goal margins in seven of their nine recent wins. However, these teams have combined to produce mixed results in totals betting during this series, with the OVER/UNDER going 2-2, ending a steady 4-0 run for the OVER.

Florida Panthers

Trailing 2-1 in the series, the panthers shifted into desperation mode in Game 4. Florida skated peppered Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark with 15 shots in the first period, and 44 total shots on the night. However, they failed to find the back of the net until late in the second period and had no answer as Boston sealed the win with four goals in the final frame. Sergei Bobrovsky failed to give the team a boost in his first start in net since March 27. The Panthers’ big-ticket netminder stopped just 25 of the 30 shots he faced, leaving head coach Paul Maurice with a tough decision as to whether he will return Alex Lyon to the crease for Game 5. Overall, the Panthers have scored just 11 total goals in the series, with just three players tallying more than one marker. Aleksander Barkov has been a particular disappointment on offence. Barkov has yet to score in the series and contributed just two assists, but his seven shots on goal in Game 4 match his season high.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins continued to seize on opportunities as they presented themselves in Game 4, routing the Panthers despite getting outshot by a wide 11-shot margin. After rediscovering his touch with a two-point performance in Game 3, Taylor Hall maintained that momentum in Game 4, leading the charge with two goals and two assists in his most productive outing of what has been a rather disappointing campaign for the former first overall pick. The club could get a big lift from Patrice Bergeron’s return to the lineup. Bergeron returned to Bruins practice on Tuesday after missing the first four games of the series due to illness and injury, skating between David Pastrnak and Tyler Bertuzzi, raising expectations that the 37-year-old team leader will suit up for Game 5. Beregeron has enjoyed steady success when facing Florida, particularly on home ice, where he has scored seven goals and racked up 17 points over his past 13 appearances against the Panthers.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Panthers vs. Bruins?

PANTHERS

Away

2

BRUINS

Home

4

Score
Predictions

Matchup

The Panthers’ best chance to get back into this series likely evaporated with their demoralizing loss in Game 4. Now facing elimination, this team has a mountain to climb considering their goaltending woes and injuries to Aaron Ekblad and Anthony Duclair. The duo is expected to be in the lineup anyway, but it is unlikely to be enough to extend the series.