Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins Game 6 odds, picks and predictions

The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins meet Friday for Game 6 of a best-of-7 Eastern Conference, 2nd-round series. The Panthers lead the series 3-2. The opening faceoff at TD Garden is slated for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Panthers vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Florida won Games 2, 3 and 4 but then failed to close out this series when it dropped a taut 2-1 contest in Game 5 Tuesday.

Boston coughed up 6 power-play goals over its 3 straight losses. The Bruins were 4 of 4 on the penalty kill in Game 5.

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Panthers at Bruins odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline: Panthers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Bruins +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
• Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Panthers -1.5 (+180) | Bruins +1.5 (-225)
• Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: +105 | U: -125)

Panthers at Bruins projected goalies

Sergei Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%) vs. Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 SV%)

Bobrovsky stopped 26 of 28 shots Tuesday. He has started all 5 games in this series and logged an .896 SV%.

Swayman had 28 saves on 29 Florida shots on goal in Game 5. After faltering in Games 2 and 3, he has rebounded to clock a .943 SV% in the last 2 games.

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Panthers at Bruins picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 3, Bruins 2

Per OddsShark, the PANTHERS (-145) are 5-2 across their last 7 games at TD Garden.

Florida is worthy of the edge in what we can expect to be tight, low-scoring, late-series playoff hockey. The Panthers are out-chancing the Bruins and in 8 playoff games have scored 3 goals or more 7 times.

Per Hockey-reference.com, in even-strength play, Florida owns a 60% Corsi number in this series. The Panthers have been held to fewer shots as the series has worn on, but that puck-possession number is worthy of attention. And in 5-on-5 play, Florida shooting just 7.6% for the series has the look of a number ripe for regression.

TAKE THE PANTHERS (-145).

Late-series games have been a solid Under in these playoffs, and with these clubs, another 2-1 game or something thereabouts would seem to be in the cards. PASS on sliding the Panthers through with a multi-goal margin.

The Under has cashed in the last 2 games and is the play in this one.

Both teams can defend at a high level (both ranked in the NHL’s top 6 in goals-allowed average during the regular season). Swayman should have a lot of confidence, and the tone of this series looks to be going from loose to tight.

BACK THE UNDER 5.5 (-125).