Bruins vs. Hurricanes Game 3 Prediction: NHL Playoffs Betting Odds
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David Bastl
It wasn’t close on the scoreboard in game two, and it wasn’t on the ice, as the Bruins dominated home ice. The B’s scored the game’s first six goals and cruised to possibly their easiest win of this post season.
Bruins vs Hurricanes Stanley Cup Betting Analysis
The Bruins took two of three games from the Hurricanes during the regular season. Two out of the three games were decided by one game (including an overtime game) the other, a two-goal game.
Dating back to the 2016 season, the Hurricanes are 3-2 on home ice against the Bruins, while the home team in this head-to-head series is 9-2 in the last 11 games.
Also, the over has been in play when these two teams get together going 8-1-1 in the last ten meetings, including an over total in games one and two. Lifetime the over is 23-9-5 in the last 37 games in Carolina.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins were head and tails the better of the two teams in games one and two in all aspects, but none more than goaltending and the stellar play of Tuukka Rask.
Rask and the Bruins enter game three on a five-game winning streak this post season and the puckstoppers numbers have been Conn Smythe-like. His playoff save percentage is tops in the league at .937 which includes stopping 50-of-54 shots against the Hurricanes in the first two games.
The defence was very solid at both ends of the rink on Sunday afternoon. First, they only allowed the Canes a grand total of 23 shots on goal. Then, at the other end of the rink contributed with three goals (Matt Grzelcyk, 2 goals, Connor Clifton, 1 goal) or 50 percent of the total scoring for the game.
Of note, the Bruins power-play has also been key to this series going four-for-seven with the man advantage. Brad Marchand leads the NHL in power-play points with 10.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes must be thinking to themselves – what is happening in this series? After eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champs in seven games, and then sweeping the Islanders in four, they have hit their biggest bump in the road.
Petr Mrazek doesn’t seem like the same goaltender he was during the first two rounds as he struggled mightily in the first two games. Mrazek has allowed 10 goals on 52 shots for a save percentage of .807 in games one and two. Although it hasn’t been confirmed at press time, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour may have to consider back-up Curtis McElhinney. To his credit, McElhinney was spectacular in the previous series versus the Islanders posting a save percentage of .947.
They will be looking for a hero in game three as the offence has fallen asleep as of late. In the last four periods of play, the Hurricanes have only managed 29 shots on goal.
BOS
CAR