Blue Jackets vs. Bruins Game 5 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
NHL bettors were gifted three Game 7s in the first round of these playoffs and there’s a decent possibility that we could have three more in the conference semifinals with three of the four series guaranteed to go at least six games. That includes Blue Jackets-Bruins.
Blue Jackets vs. Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Bruins are just 3-3 at home in these playoffs despite Tuukka Rask having a 1.87 goals-against averaged and .935 save percentage in those games. Boston won Game 1 of this series at TD Garden 3-2 in overtime but lost Game 2 there 3-2 in double overtime. Columbus is 3-1 on the road in the postseason. Sergei Bobrovsky has a 2.01 GAA and .926 SV in those four.
On the latest Sports Interaction odds to win the Eastern Conference, the Bruins are +175 and Blue Jackets +275.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus dropped its first home game of these playoffs on Thursday, 4-1 – also the most goals the Blue Jackets have allowed all postseason. Bobrovsky has been out of this world but looked somewhat mortal, allowing all four on 46 shots – he was beaten twice in the first 7:18 of the game and the Blue Jackets never recovered. Artemi Panarin had the lone goal, his fifth in the playoffs, at 8:46 of the third.
The Jackets’ stellar power-play attack was 0-for-4, they missed a shorthanded penalty shot and the team was dominated in the faceoff circle. Meanwhile, Boston was 2-for-6 with the man advantage. Columbus hadn’t been shorthanded as many as six times in a game since way back on Oct. 13.
Boston Bruins
No question the story line for Boston on Thursday was its first line of centre Patrice Bergeron and wingers David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. That group had combined for one point in this series, but Bergeron scored two power-play goals in Game 5, Pastrnak had a goal and assist and Marchand an assist. An argument could be made that Marchand should have been suspended for Game 5 after a cheap shot in Game 4.
Bergeron now has 93 career playoff points, passing the legendary Bobby Orr for sixth on Boston’s all-time list. Bergeron’s current teammate, David Krejci, is next on the list with 94 points. Hall of Famer Ray Bourque holds the record with 161. Rask allowed one goal on 40 shots.
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