Bruins Favored as The Home Team for Game 6
Home teams are a perfect 5-0 so far in this series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. So it comes as no surprise that Boston will be the favorite on the NHL odds despite coming off a 5-1 loss a few nights ago. The Bruins will fight for their season as the Hurricanes look to close out their playoff rival.
Let’s check the latest NHL lines, stats, injury reports, and NHL odds for Hurricanes vs Bruins. We’ve plenty of NHL picks and predictions.
The Hurricanes Must Go through Boston
To close the series, the Carolina Hurricanes must keep cool and block out the Boston faithful. The Hurricanes outplayed the Bruins for most of Game 4, but the power-play (PP) goal by Jake DeBrusk late in the second quickly turned the tide for the Bruins. Boston scored three unanswered goals and an empty-netter to even the series.
Without the home-ice advantage, Carolina dominated Boston. The Hurricanes are still the better team but if they let Boston get under their skin, they will commit unnecessary penalties and give up goals. Antti Raanta is a veteran and should stay solid though, he too seems to get rattled.
Penalties may be unavoidable here as the desperate Bruins will do anything to throw the Hurricanes off their game. So, the penalty kill has to stay elite. Carolina has allowed four PP goals on 13 attempts from Boston. That isn’t good enough and if Carolina can at least contain Boston’s power-play, it could end this series.
Bruins Don’t Want to Go
You can ask the Toronto Maple Leafs and other recent opponents how tough the Boston Bruins are when their backs are against the wall. This is a playoff-tested team and their four consecutive first-round victories are a testament to their determination.
The Bruins should know that they are getting outdone by the Hurricanes, especially on 5v5. Even in their two home games. Boston can’t keep relying on its red-hot power-play to produce offense.
As great as Jeremy Swayman has been at home, his career numbers at the TD Garden are not flattering: a 90.5 save percentage with a 2.47 goals-against average. Swayman can only hold off a surging Hurricane offense and if Boston continues to produce on special teams, betting online on the ‘over’ could be the play to make.
Hurricanes vs Bruins Head-to-Head
With the Carolina Hurricanes up 3-2 om the series, they are now favored to win at -375 in the sportsbook. The Boston Bruins have come back twice from a 3-2 series deficit though, both did happen against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Teams who win Game 5 and go up 3-2 win the series 79.1 percent of the time.
Hurricanes vs Bruins Game Information
- Game: Hurricanes (57-22-8) vs Bruins (53-29-5)
- Location: TD Garden
- Day/Time: Thursday, May 12th, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Hurricanes vs Bruins Live stream: NHL.TV
Hurricanes vs Bruins Betting Lines
Hurricanes vs Bruins Prediction
The Boston Bruins should be able to edge the Carolina Hurricanes again. It could be another high-scoring game as all five games in the series have seen their total go over. Carolina will once again outpace the Bruins on 5v5 and will create more scoring chances, some of which will turn to goals against an overworked Jeremy Swayman.
Something about Boston fans will get on the Hurricanes’ nerves and they will make more mistakes than usual. The Bruins will capitalize on these and score. In what will feel like a 50/50 game, we favor the team who should get the benefit of the doubt with the refs.
