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Andrew Rogers
Bruins vs. Lightning: Game 1 Prediction, NHL Playoff Odds
The Boston Bruins needed to work extra hard to get past the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs – and that extra toil could be an issue as they open their Eastern Conference semifinal series Saturday afternoon against the host Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston is a sizeable underdog in Game 1 against a Lightning team that needed just five games to breeze past the New Jersey Devils in the opening round.
Bruins vs. Lightning Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Analysis
The Lightning are the favored play in this NHL matchup, installed at -171 to advance to the Eastern Conference final for the third time in the past four seasons. Tampa Bay has been utterly dominant at Amalie Arena for the past season-plus, having won 36 of its previous 51 home games. But the Bruins do have one major thing going for them: they dominated the regular-season series between the teams, winning three of four encounters.
The over play was popular in Round 1, and that could ring true Saturday if both teams extend their recent trends. Boston has gone above the total five times with two pushes in its previous seven games following a win and is 5-2-2 O/U in its last nine overall. Tampa Bay has converted the over in 21 of 28 games following a win and is 21-9-2 O/U in its previous 32 games against East foes. But beware: the teams are 0-4-1 O/U in their last five head-to-head meetings.
Boston Bruins
Florida has been rather kind to the Bruins, who had won five consecutive trips to Amalie Arena prior to a 4-0 defeat April 3. But the postseason is a different animal – and Boston has struggled mightily away from TD Garden of late, losing six of its previous seven road games. The Bruins wouldn’t be here if not for the scoring exploits of David Pastrnak, who had 13 points against Toronto; he’s +155 to outscore Tampa counterpart Nikita Kucherov (-143) in Round 2.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Making quick work of the Devils has the Lightning sitting pretty in the race to represent the East in the Stanley Cup; they enter Saturday at +220 to reach the finals, second only to the Penguins (+185). If you like Tampa to clinch its second-round series at home, you’ll get +489 odds for a five-game victory and +397 for the Lightning to prevail in seven games – the lowest odds of any scenario involving either team. The Lightning are 17-5 in their past 22 second-round games.
