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- What: Eastern Conference NHL Playoffs – Second Round – Game 5
- Who: Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers
- Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
- Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: CBC, TVAS, ESPN, SN
The Florida Panthers look to close out their second round series against the Boston Bruins in front of a home crowd on Tuesday night at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Florida holds a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Playoff Series. The Panthers are coming off a 3-2 win over the Bruins on Sunday in Boston. Here is some background info before we look at the betting breakdown for Game 5 of the Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers playoff series.
The Florida Panthers downed the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, beating the Lightning in five games. Florida finished the 2024 NHL regular season as the top team in the Atlantic Division with a 52-24-6 record.
The Boston Bruins went seven games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 of the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Boston jumped to a 3-1 series lead, but the Maple Leafs came back to force a game seven, which Boston won 2-1 in overtime. The Bruins were the No. 2 club in the Atlantic, finishing one point behind Florida with a 47-20-15 record.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference NHL playoff series between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers, check out our guide to betting on the 2024 NHL Playoffs and our tips for betting on the NHL.
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers betting picks – Game 5
 | Puck Line | Money Line | Total |
| Boston Bruins | +1.5 (-145) | +186 | Ov 5.5 (-103) |
| Florida Panthers | -1.5 (+125) | -210 | Un 5.5 (-113) |
Boston Bruins betting breakdown
The Boston Bruins opened their 2024 NHL Playoff series against the Florida Panthers with a 5-1 win. The Bruins had 28 shots in that game. In their three losses since that victory, the Bruins have put the following number of shots on Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky: 15, 17, and 18. Bobrovsky has not been great in the series, posting a .885 save percentage, but he’s been good enough. The Bruins need to do whatever they can to get the puck on the net in Game 5 if they have any hope of extending this series.
Bruins captain Brad Marchand did not play in Game 4 after taking a hit from Sam Bennett in Game 3. That hit, at best, could be considered questionable. However, the NHL did not dole out any punishment to Bennett. Marchand is questionable for Game 5. The Bruins need to focus more on their offense than on Bennett in Game 5. Marchand is the team leader in scoring with 10 points (three goals, seven assists). Jake DeBrusk leads Boston in goals in the playoffs with five.
The Bruins are averaging 2.55 goals per game in the 2024 playoffs while allowing the same number. Boston’s power play is at 25 percent, and its penalty kill is 83.3 percent effective.
Florida Panthers betting breakdown
The Florida Panthers have simply been more effective on offense than the Boston Bruins in this series. Florida has outshot the Bruins in every game of the series, including the Panthers’ Game 1 loss, and they have been much better than the Bruins when they pick up power play opportunities, including Game 3 when the Panthers scored four power play goals on six attempts. Florida does not have to change much of anything heading into Game 5. However, they can’t get complacent on defense, as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been fairly average between the pipes in this series.
Mathew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are pacing the Panthers on offense during the 2024 NHL Playoffs with 13 points apiece. Carter Verhaeghe is the team’s goal scoring leader in the postseason with six markers.
Florida is averaging the most goals per game in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs with four. The team allows 2.67 goals per game. The Panthers power play is clicking at 26.5 percent, and the club’s penalty kill is very good at 83.9 percent. Only the Carolina Hurricanes have averaged more shots per game than the Panthers. Florida is putting 34 pucks on net per game, while allowing the second fewest shots on goal with an average of 23.8.
Best bets for Game 5 between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers
The Boston Bruins have not played well in the past three games. With Brad Marchand questionable and likely limited if he does return for Game 5, don’t expect to see a major difference in the club’s play in tonight’s game. The betting pick is for the Florida Panthers to close out their series against the Boston Bruins in Game 5.
In the past 10 playoff games between the Bruins and the Panthers the over has hit. There’s no reason to believe that trend won’t continue in an elimination game. The betting pick is for the Bruins and Panthers to combine for over 5.5 goals.
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