Two teams that have served a lot of time in the penalty box this season, the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers face off at the BB&T Center for an Atlantic Division showdown. TVA Sports will air the game, and the action gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 15.
Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers Odds
Boston is 44-24 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 9.3 units this season. Through 68 regular season outings, 35 of its games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 19-13 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 22.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been sent to the penalty box 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its past five games. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (29-16-4) has been the primary option in goal for Boston this year. If Boston chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy might turn to Anton Khudobin (15-11-4), who has a .918 save percentage and 2.48 goals against average this year.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Bruins. Marchand (72 points) is up to 30 goals and 42 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 21 different games. Pastrnak has 27 goals and 41 assists to his name (and has registered a point in 44 games).
Florida is 34-33 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 0.1 units this season. 35 of its matches have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 21-13 SU at home this season.
The Panthers have converted on just 19.9 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Panthers players have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
James Reimer (27.8 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Panthers. Reimer has 16 wins, 20 losses, and five OT losses and has registered a subpar .907 save percentage and 3.16 goals against average this year.
Aleksander Barkov (25 goals, 44 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Panthers.
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 3-2 in shootouts.
The over has hit in three of Florida’s last five games.
Four of Florida’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 3-1 overall in those games.
Boston skaters have accounted for the league’s seventh-most hits per game (23.9).
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