The Carolina Hurricanes have been no match for the Boston Bruins thus far in the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. Will that change in Game 3 on Tuesday night as the series shifts to Raleigh? The game is a pick’em on the NHL betting lines.
How to Bet Bruins vs Hurricanes 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 3 Info
- When: Tuesday, 8 PM ET
- Where: PNC Arena
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: The Team 104.5
- 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Carolina Hurricanes -110 / Boston Bruins -110 (Total 5.5)
Why Bet on Boston?
Since the conference format was adopted during the 1981-82 season, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the Conference Finals own a series record of 30-2 (93.8%). Boston is up 2-0 after winning game 2 on Sunday by a score of 6-2 after also winning easily in Game 1, 5-2.
Matt Grzelcyk scored a pair of goals in Sunday’s win. Grzelcyk, who scored his first NHL playoff goal in Game 2 versus Columbus of the last round opened the scoring at the 15:22 mark of the first period and got his second goal of the match during a second-period power play. He has collected three goals and seven points in 15 games this postseason.
Danton Heinen notched one goal and one assist Sunday. Heinen picked up a helper on a goal by Connor Clifton during the second period and scored his second goal of the postseason early in the third frame to give the Bruins a 6-0 lead at the time. He only had two assists in 10 games going into Sunday’s contest and he hadn’t scored a goal since April 13 of Round 1 against Toronto.
Torey Krug and Charlie Coyle each had three assists. Coyle doubled his assist total in these playoffs with helpers on two goals by Grzelcyk and another by Heinen in Boston’s blowout win. Coyle is up to 12 points in 15 matches this postseason. Not only did Coyle have a three-assist game Sunday, but he was also 12-of-15 in the faceoff dot.
Krug posted three secondary helpers in the contest. He had two power-play assists on goals by Jake DeBrusk and Grzelcyk as well as an even-strength assist on a marker by David Backes. Krug has 11 points, including 10 assists, in 15 postseason contests.
The Bruins have had 19 players score a goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs thus far. The only two players who have not are defenseman Brandon Carlo and center Karson Kuhlman. Carlo has played in all 15 games with two assists while Kuhlman has a pair of helpers in only six games. The 1987 Philadelphia Flyers featured an NHL-best 21 different goal scorers that postseason.
Tuukka Rask stopped 21 of 23 shots in Game 2. Rask had a shutout going into the third period. It was Rask’s fifth straight win.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.20
- Shots: 32.96
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.96
Defense
- Goals: 2.55
- Shots: 29.96
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.44
Why Bet on Carolina?
The Hurricanes are facing their second 2-0 deficit of the 2019 postseason (also R1 vs. Washington). Only the 2011 Bruins (CQF and SCF) and 2009 Penguins (CSF and SCF) have overcome multiple 2-0 series deficits in a single playoff year. Carolina is the 31st team in NHL history, and the fourth in the last 10 years, to have had each of their first three playoff series begins with either team taking a 2-0 lead. The Canes are unbeaten at home in these playoffs.
In Sunday’s loss, Justin Williams and Teuvo Teravainen had the goals. Williams got the Hurricanes on the board at the 11:17 mark of the third period to end Tuukka Rask’s shutout bid. He has four goals and seven points in 13 playoff games. He also took two minor penalties in Game 2, which resulted in goals against.
Teravainen got his seventh goal of the postseason late in the third period a result of a giveaway by Rask. He shot the puck top corner to make sure Rask had no chance to recover. Teravainen has 10 points in 13 playoff contests.
The Hurricanes have only five power play goals in 13 playoff games and clearly, need more from their special teams. They have only the five goals but have had the man-advantage 45 times thus far, third-most among all playoff teams with only San Jose at 58 and Colorado at 48, having more. Sebastian Aho and Dougie Hamilton have two power-play goals apiece while Jordan Staal has one.
The Hurricanes need more from their special teams, especially since they are trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final. They have only the five goals but have had the man-advantage 45 times thus far, third most among all playoff teams with only San Jose at 58 and Colorado at 48, having more. Sebastian Aho and Dougie Hamilton have two apiece while Jordan Staal has one.
Petr Mrazek surrendered six goals on 25 shots on Sunday. Mrazek struggled mightily and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Carolina turned to Curtis McElhinney for Game 3. Mrazek gave up 20 goals in his first nine playoff appearances and 10 in the two games against the Bruins, coming off a two-game injury absence after exiting Game 3 of the second-round series against the New York Islanders.
“I’m feeling good, no issue with that,” Mrazek said. “I don’t think it was that long a break, maybe nine or 10 days. I was feeling pretty good. I’m not going to look past, just look forward to the next one.”
The Hurricanes are 4-0 when scoring first, 4-5 when their opponent scores first in these playoffs.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.98
- Shots: 33.87
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.78
Defense
- Goals: 2.73
- Shots: 28.43
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.21
Bruins vs Hurricanes 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Betting Trends
- Over is 23-9-5 in the last 37 meetings in Carolina
- Favorite is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings
- Home team is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings
- Bruins are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games this season
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games played on a Tuesday
- Hurricanes are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Carolina’s last 9 games against Boston
Expert Final Score Prediction for Bruins vs Hurricanes
Boston Bruins 2 – Carolina Hurricanes 3
