Stanley Cup Playoff 1st Round Betting: Game 5 Analysis and Odds

The home team went 2-1 last night, while two games hit the under, and the New York Islanders avoided elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs. There might only be two NHL games on the schedule for Wednesday night, but those games feature two of the top teams and betting favorites in Stanley Cup odds.

The Boston Bruins (+244) will have the chance to eliminate the Florida Panthers (+12000) tonight, holding a 3-1 series lead. In the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche (+800) have their hands full with the Seattle Kraken (+5200).

We’ll preview and betting odds for both hockey games tonight and make our NHL betting picks to help prepare you for Wednesday night’s Stanley Cup playoff action.

Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Betting: Game 5 Matchup Analysis and Odds

NHL Playoffs Start: Monday, April 17, 2023
Stanley Cup Final Start: Saturday, June 3, 2023

Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins | East 1st Round – Game 5, BOS leads series 3-1

NHL Odds: Florida Panthers (+185) vs Boston Bruins (-232)
When: Wednesday, March 26, 2023 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV / Streaming: ESPN

The Florida Panthers will need to give the Boston Bruins their second three-game losing streak of the season in order to save their season and chances to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately for Panthers fans, we don’t like their odds.

The Bruins and Panthers split the regular season series 2-2, with the home team winning each game. Aside from Florida’s 6-3 win in game two, the Bruins have unsurprisingly owned this series winning game one 3-1, game three 4-2, and game four 6-2.

The Boston Bruins are averaging 4.0 goals per game, while Florida averages 2.75 goals per game. The special teams battle strongly favors the Bruins, with their powerplay converting at 28.6% and penalty kill operating at 90.9%.

Moreover, the Panthers have real issues in the net, as neither Alex Lyon nor Sergei Bobrovsky has been good enough in four of the five games in this series.

The Panthers and Bruins have a 6-2 over/under record in head-to-head meetings this season, with both games hitting the under being playoff games.

The home team is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings, while the favorite is 39-19 in the previous 58 matchups. Florida is 6-20 in the last 26 trips to TD Garden in Boston.

We’re taking the Bruins to win and eliminate the Florida Panthers from the Stanley Cup playoffs, with this game hitting the over in the process.

NHL East Game 5 Pick: Bruins | Bet Panthers vs Bruins Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Seattle Kraken vs Colorado Avalanche | West 1st Round – Game 5, Series tied 2-2

NHL Odds: Seattle Kraken (+147) vs Colorado Avalanche (-182)
When: Wednesday, March 26, 2023 at 9:30 pm ET
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Just when it seemed like the Avalanche started to find their groove after winning games two and three, the season-long trend of adversity continued for the Colorado Avalanche with Valeri Nichushkin leaving the team for personal reasons, losing game four 3-2 in overtime and losing defenseman Cale Makar to a one-game suspension for game five.

While Colorado will be without Makar for game five, the Kraken lost leading scoring Jared McCann to a head injury from Makar’s hit. Even without Makar, Colorado should be the better team on the ice, but the Kraken might have the Avs number this season.

While McCann hasn’t been the engine that fuels the Kraken in the playoffs, his absence removes another scoring threat from the Kraken lineup, which has been scoring by committee all season long.

The Seattle Kraken hold a 4-3 edge in the 2023 season series. The under has gone 6-1 in Kraken vs Avalanche matchups in 2022-23. The only game to hit the over was three of the series, which had a total goals line of 5.5.

The underdog is 6-2 in the previous eight meetings, while the road team is 5-2 in the last seven matchups.

Both teams are averaging 3.0 goals per game, while Seattle has a slight special teams advantage thanks to their powerplay.

While McCann hasn’t been the engine that fuels the Kraken in the playoffs, his absence removes another scoring threat from the Kraken lineup, which has been scoring by committee all season long.

We’re favoring the Avalanche to win game five but are highly conflicted as the trends favor the Kraken getting a road win. If we have to pick a winner, we’re taking the Avs on the moneyline. However, we won’t be shocked if we have bettors remorse when the Kraken pulls off the upset. We’re also taking the under of 6.0.

NHL West Game 5 Pick: Avalanche | Bet Kraken vs Avalanche Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

MUST-SEE NHL Goals of Week 1 | 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Wednesday, April 26

Time ET	Game	TV
7:00 pm	Panthers – Bruins \| Round 1, Game 5	ESPN
9:30 pm	Kraken – Avalanche \| Round 1, Game 5	ESPN

Thursday, April 27

Time ET	Game	TV
7:00 pm	Lightning – Maple Leafs \| Round 1, Game 5	TBS
7:30 pm	Rangers – Devils \| Round 1, Game 5	ESPN2
10:00 pm	Jets – Golden Knights \| Round 1, Game 5	ESPN2
Bet Stanley Cup to Win