Bruins vs. Blue Jackets Game 6 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
The Boston Bruins look to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night, while the host Columbus Blue Jackets aim to force a Game 7.
Bruins vs Blue Jackets Betting Analysis
The Carolina Hurricanes swept the New York Islanders in the other Eastern Conference semifinal and await the winner. Boston would have home-ice advantage vs. the Hurricanes, who would have it against the Blue Jackets.
On the updated Sports Interaction series line, the Bruins are -500 favourites with the Blue Jackets at +300. The favoured exact result is Bruins ending it Monday at -101. The long shot is Columbus in seven at +291. A potential Game 7 would be in Boston on Wednesday.
When a best-of-7 series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has won the series 78.4 per cent of the time. However, those clubs are just 2-2 in these playoffs. Boston has won 21 of 26 series in its history when leading a best-of-7 3-2. Columbus is 0-2 when trailing 3-2 in a best-of-7.
Boston Bruins
Boston’s 4-3 win in Game 5 on Saturday was one of the most entertaining games of these playoffs. The Bruins blew a 3-1 third-period lead but won it on David Pastrnak’s sixth goal of the postseason at 18:32. It was just the second time in franchise history that the Bruins gave up a multi-goal lead in the third period of a playoff game and won in regulation. Pastrnak also had a goal earlier in the period to make it 3-1 and was the No. 1 star. He usually steps up in the playoffs as Pastrnak’s average of 1.17 points per game is the third-highest through 30 career playoff games in team history. That’s also third-best among active players, behind Alex Ovechkin (1.40) and Sidney Crosby (1.27). Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists in the win and Tuukka Rask 33 saves.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets hadn’t allowed more than four goals in a game in these playoffs before Game 4 but now have in back-to-back games. Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all four on 36 shots Saturday. Dean Kukan’s first career goal, regular season or playoffs, tied the game 3-3 at 13:58 of the third. Seth Jones (third of playoffs) and Ryan Dzingel (first) had the others. There were six goals in a wild third period. This could be the end of an era of sorts in Columbus with a loss as Bobrovsky and playoff leading scorer Artemi Panarin (11 points) are among two of the club’s pending unrestricted free agents.
BOS
CLB