After making short work of the Detroit Red Wings in Round 1, the Boston Bruins must prepare for another Original Six playoff match up in Round 2 against the Montreal Canadiens, who swept aside the Tampa Bay Lightning. Can the stingy Bruins backline hold off the Habs’ deep and dangerous attack?
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins Round 2, Game 1 Betting Preview
Where: TD Bank Garden, Boston
When: 3:00PM ET, May 2, 2014
Line: Montreal Canadiens (+155) at Boston Bruins (-175); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Betting on the Montreal Canadiens
[sc:NHL240 ]The Montreal Canadiens will be well-rested ahead of Game 1 in Boston after finishing their sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning over a week before this series begins. A Canadiens offense that was in the bottom third in goals in the regular season exploded to life with 16 goals in that series, but what’s more surprising is where they came from.
The third line of Lars Eller, Brian Gionta and Rene Borque scored twice as many goals (6) as top liners Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais and Thomas Vanek (3), which displays the sheer depth of the Habs that should come in handy against the Bruins’ equally deep blueliners.
The Canadiens went just 2-for-13 against the Lightning on the power play, and they could have a tougher time against Boston’s penalty kill. But the Habs’ own penalty kill unit (85%, 4th in NHL in the regular season) should give the Bruins fits at the other end of the ice.
While the Bruins will host the first two games of the series, against Montreal that may not be much of an advantage. Montreal is 8-2 in its last 10 road games, and has won its last four games in Boston.
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Betting on the Boston Bruins
After a shock Game 1 defeat, the Boston Bruins reeled off four straight wins to make short work of the Detroit Red Wings in Round 1. Tukka Rask and the vaunted Boston defense conceded just six goals in the five games against the Red Wings, the best mark in the playoffs thus far.
The Bruins’ first liners finally got going in the final two games after slow starts to the postseason; Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla scored in both games, while David Krejci recorded his first two points of the playoffs. After getting shut out in Game 1, the Bruins scored three or more goals in all four of their wins.
Like they did for the entire regular season, Boston’s special teams is playing spectacularly. The Bruins’ penalty kill snuffed out 18 of the Red Wings’ 20 power plays. And on the other end, their power play unit, which ranked 3rd during the regular season, went 6-for-16 and has scored in four straight games.
If there’s a team in the league that’s up to the challenge of Montreal’s road record, it’s the B’s. The Bruins are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bruins prove to be too strong at home and hand the Habs their first loss of the postseason while cashing in on the -175 money line.
