We're into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs now. Every day of the NHL postseason, Josie Costigan and myself, have you set with daily expert picks.
Tonight we've only got one game on the schedule, a rematch of last year's first-round clash between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers.
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Rolling Records
Michel: 28-17 (+2.76 Units)
Josie: 21-22 (-0.83 Units)
Game 1: Panthers vs Bruins
The Game: Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins, 8 PM
| Team | Puckline | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | +1.5 (-185) | O5.5 (+105) | +142 |
| Florida Panthers | -1.5 (+154) | U5.5 (-125) | -170 |
Michel's Take: My pick is taking Boston on the puckline tonight.
Florida is rested going into this series, that has to be good, right? I'm not so sure about that. When Florida has faced more than a two-day break between games this season they've got a 4-3-0SU (57%) record.
Which matches with trends we've seen since 2019. Teams with three or more days off are 69-62SU (52%). The average goal differential in those 131 games is -0.04. When teams are on this long of a break the games are tight.
Not to mention that Boston has swept the season series with Florida winning three of the four games by a single goal.
I feel safe in taking Boston at +1.5 even if the odds are a bit short at -185. That's still $5.40 in profits on a $10 bet.
Pick: Boston +1.5 (-185)
Josie's Take: New series, let’s go. Boston beat Toronto in Game 7, who would’ve thought? Now, they face Florida, which has had a decent chunk of time to prepare. The Bruins got sloppy at the end of the last series, too many close calls. Sure, Boston had Florida’s number in the regular season but that means nothing at this point.
Florida has been playing more consistently. I'm pumped for this Swayman vs Bobrovsky duel. But, I think the Panthers take the series opener.
Pick: Panthers ML (-180)
