The Boston Bruins can punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Finals and earn plenty of rest ahead of that series by sweeping out the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh on Thursday night. The Bruins are favored on the NHL betting lines to do just that.
How to Bet Bruins at Hurricanes NHL Hockey Odds & TV Info
- When: Thursday, 8 PM ET
- Where: PNC Arena
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: Team 104.5
- 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Boston Bruins -120 (Total 5.5)
Why Bet on Boston?
The Bruins are simply the better team here. After blowing out the Hurricanes the first two games, Boston won 2-1 in Game 3 as the series shifted to North Carolina. Boston moved within one win of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the 20th time in franchise history and third time in the past eight years (2011 and 2013).
The Bruins own a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series for the 21st time in franchise history, holding an all-time series record of 19-1 in the 20 previous instances. Boston’s lone loss came to Philadelphia in the 2010 Conference Semifinals. The Bruins are up 3-0 in a Conference Finals/Semifinals for the eighth time in franchise history and own an all-time series record of 7-0 in the seven previous instances, including five sweeps.
Boston improved to 6-0 in its last six games, marking its longest playoff win streak in 41 years and tied for the third-longest postseason win streak in franchise history.
Tuukka Rask allowed one goal on 36 shots on Tuesday. He stopped 20 shots in the first period alone. The Finn is the first Bruins goaltender to make 20+ saves in a postseason period since Tim Thomas accomplished the same during the final frame in Game 2 of the 2011 Conference Semifinals (22 saves). Rask extended his playoff win streak to six games – the longest by a Bruins goalie in 31 years. Only one goaltender in franchise history has recorded a longer win streak in a postseason: Gerry Cheevers won 10 straight games in 1970 to backstop Boston to its fourth Stanley Cup.
Rask owns a career road goals-against average of 2.02 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (37 GP), the third-lowest in NHL history among goaltenders to appear in at least 25 postseason games as a visitor.
Chris Wagner and Brad Marchand had the Boston goals. Marchand scored on the power play. It was his sixth goal of the postseason, bringing him to a team-high 16 points through 16 playoff games. Meanwhile, Joakim Nordstrom sent a great feed to Wagner, getting the puck through Brett Pesce’s skates to Wagner on the door step for the goal. It was Wagner’s second goal of the Eastern Conference Finals. The 27-year-old forward was kept off the scoresheet for the entirety of the opening two rounds.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.18
- Shots: 32.94
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.85
Defense
- Goals: 2.53
- Shots: 30.02
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.11
Why Bet on Carolina?
Here’s what is facing Carolina now: Teams that take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoffs series own an all-time series record of 189-4 (97.9%) – including a 3-0 mark in 2019. Hey, at least four teams have rallied!
Current Hurricanes captain Justin Williams was part of the last team to do so, collecting each of his six points in the 2014 First Round in Games 4-7 for the Kings as he helped them rally past the Sharks en route to winning both the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy.
Calvin De Haan scored the lone goal Tuesday. Down 2-0 in the second period, De Haan let go of a shot from the top of the left circle, somehow getting it through Tuukka Rask’s pads. It was De Haan’s first goal in 69 games, giving the 28-year-old blueliner his first point in 11 Stanley Cup playoff contests.
Sebastian Aho and Justin Faulk each had an assist. Aho extended his point streak to five games. He has five goals and 12 points in 14 playoff contests this year. Faulk has only been held off the scoresheet once in his last five games. He has a goal and eight points in 14 postseason contests in 2019.
The Hurricanes had an expected goal rate of 4.2 in Game 3. They were the 11th team to have an expected goal that high this postseason. Teams are now 8-3 in that situation. The other 2 losses came in Stars-Predators series.
Curtis McElhinney allowed two goals on 31 shots in the Game 2 loss. Down 2-0 in this series, head coach Rod Brind’Amour elected to go with a goaltending change. McElhinney was beaten twice early in the second period on a couple of goals that he cannot be blamed for. McElhinney was given the start after Petr Mrazek played in the first two matches. Mrazek has been the Hurricanes’ starter for most of the playoffs with the exception of when he’s been hurt, but he struggled the first two of this series.
“Mac was great,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He gave us a chance and that’s all you can ask. The other guy was pretty special on the other end. It was a good battle there.”
Expect McElhinney to start again. It’s been 7 months since Carolina lost 3 games in a row (in regulation) going back to mid-October. The Canes did not lose 4 in a row all season.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.96
- Shots: 33.90
- PP/PK Percentage: 16.50
Defense
- Goals: 2.72
- Shots: 28.46
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.21
Bruins vs Hurricanes 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds
- Bruins are 8-0 in their last 8 Conference Finals games
- Hurricanes are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record
- Bruins are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston’s last 9 games against an opponent in the East conference
- Hurricanes are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Carolina’s last 10 games against Boston
Expert Final Score Prediction for Bruins vs Hurricanes
Boston Bruins 2 – Carolina Hurricanes 3
