Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings – 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 1, Game 3 Preview and Prediction

After being shut out in a shocking Game 1, the Boston Bruins looked more like the undisputed best team in the East in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Round 1 series with the Red Wings. Will the no. 1 seed Bruins take control of the series when the action shifts to Detroit for Game 3?

With so much action in the 2014 NHL and NBA playoffs, the time is now to create a betting account and cash in on all the action. Once you have, read on for everything you need to know to bet this Original Six Game 3 match up.
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Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings Game 3 Betting Preview

Series Schedule & Results

Game 1 – April 18, 7:30PM ET, Detroit 1 Boston 0

Game 2 – April 20, 3:00 PM ET, Detroit 1 Boston 4

Game 3 – April 22, 7:30 PM ET, Boston (-145) Detroit (+125); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines

Game 4 – April 24, 8:00 PM ET, Boston at Detroit

Game 5 (if necessary) – April 26, 3:00 PM ET, Detroit at Boston

Game 6 (if necessary) – April 24, TBD, Boston at Detroit

Game 7 (if necessary) – April 30, TBD, Detroit at Boston

Betting on the Boston Bruins

[sc:NHL240 ]After an embarrassing shut out in their own building in Game 1, the Bruins offense finally came alive in a 4-1 thrashing of the Red Wings in Game 2.

Special teams have been critical so far in this series. Boston’s outstanding power play unit (21.7% conversion, 3rd in NHL) was the difference in Game 2, as it converted two of their four power plays. Jarome Iginla and Torey Krug assisted one of those goals to hulking defenseman Zdeno Chara, and also combined to set up Milan Lucic. On the flipside, the Bruins have killed all six of the Red Wings’ power plays so far in the series.

Tuukka Rask remains excellent in goal, stopping 57 of the 59 shots he’s faced so far (a .966 save percentage). He’ll need to be on top of his game if the Bruins are to stop their recent road woes. Boston went 0-5 in its final five regular season road games.

Betting on the Detroit Red Wings

Despite getting clobbered 4-1 in Game 2, the Red Wings should be satisfied with splitting the first two games in Boston. The Wings now return home, where they’re 4-0 in the last four meetings against the Bruins.

The Red Wings have yet to explode offensively, with just two goals and five points recorded in two games. Expect leading scorers Daniel Alfredsson, Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist to have more of an impact once the series shifts to Detroit. Nyquist – one of the keys to Red Wings’ late playoff qualification – has gone cold when it matters most: the young gunner hasn’t lit the lamp since April 2nd.

Head coach Mike Babcock must also be wary of the disadvantage the Red Wings have on special teams; Detroit has failed to convert a power play in six attempts thus far. Either his team avoids committing penalties – as they did successfully in the Game 1 win – or find a way past the imposing Boston penalty kill.

Writer’s Prediction

Like Game 2 was for Boston, this will be the Detroit offense’s breakout game. With their fierce home support, Hockeytown will inspire the Red Wings to a Game 3 win.
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