Panthers vs Bruins Game 5 Prediction & Picks: Boston Takes One Step Closer to Stanley Cup Goal

The Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins are set to play Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday, April 26. The Panthers vs Bruins series returns to TD Garden as Boston holds a 3-1 lead, leaving time to tell if it’s time for Jim Montgomery’s club to move on to the next round.

That's a strong trip to Sunrise. pic.twitter.com/1LSDwwQiQX

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 23, 2023

The Bruins took a commanding series lead with a dominant 6-2 effort against the Panthers in Game 4. Taylor Hall led the charge with a four-point night (two goals, two assists) while Jake DeBrusk also found the back of the net twice. Not to be outdone, goaltender Linus Ullmark stood on his head, making 41 saves on 43 shot attempts.

Can the Bruins seal their opponent’s fate with another impressive performance at TD Garden? Or will the Panthers prove that they still have life inside themselves by forcing a Game 6?

While the answers to those questions remain to be seen, Betting News has you covered with all of your Panthers vs Bruins Game 5 needs. Read on to find out the matchup’s latest betting odds, as well as a prediction and the best betting option.

Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins Game 5 Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Florida Panthers vs. Boston Bruins (BOS leads 3-1)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023
• Game Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Time
• Panthers vs Bruins TV Info: ESPN

Panthers vs Bruins Game 5 Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Wednesday, April 26 at 9:17 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Spread

• Florida Panthers +1.5 (-118)
• Boston Bruins -1.5 (-102)

Over/Under

• Over 6.5 Goals (-102)
• Under 6.5 Goals (-120)

Moneyline

• Florida Panthers +202
• Boston Bruins -250

Panthers vs Bruins Betting Trends

• Florida is 3-7 straight up in its last 10 games against Boston.
• Boston is 15-1 straight up in its last 16 games against the Eastern Conference.
• The total has hit the under in four of Florida’s last six games as the underdog.
• The total has hit the under in 10 of Boston’s last 12 home games.
• The total has hit the under in six of the last eight Florida-Boston matchups.

Panthers vs Bruins Game 5 Preview

It’s beginning to look like the writing is on the wall for the Panthers. They showed promise in Game 2, but it’s been all Bruins since then. Boston has outscored Florida 10-4 in the last two games alone and 13-5 in each of its victories.

A lack of reliable goaltending has played a key role in the Panthers’ downfall. Alex Lyon has made three starts, but only one was deemed a quality appearance, per Hockey Reference. The 30-year-old veteran has left much to be desired, tallying a .902 save percentage and 3.26 goals-against average.

Sergei Bobrovsky hasn’t been any better, unfortunately. The Russian netminder has made two appearances (one start), playing to a .846 SV% and 5.54 GAA. Regardless of who’s in goal, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Panthers as long as their goaltenders continue to disappoint.

Meanwhile, the Bruins, unsurprisingly, have gotten solid play between the pipes. The Vezina Trophy frontrunner’s stats might not be as strong as they were in the regular season, but a .926 SV% and 2.55 GAA are much better than what the Panthers are getting.

Another thing holding the Panthers back is their lackluster play when it comes to special teams. Florida has only scored once on 11 power-play opportunities thus far — a 9.1% success rate.

On the flip side of the equation, the Bruins are 4-of-14 on the man advantage (28.6%) and have scored at least one PP goal in three of the matchups in this series.

It’s also hard doubting the Bruins have not only won 11 of their last 12 outings overall but also five of their last six against the Panthers at TD Garden. All but one of Florida’s losses over that stretch came by a multi-goal margin.

Another thing that would give the Bruins an extra edge is the potential return of captain Patrice Bergeron. The veteran center has yet to play this postseason due to an upper-body injury, but he participated in Tuesday’s practice and feels good about suiting up tonight. Bergeron racked up 27 goals and 58 points in 78 regular-season games.

Panthers vs Bruins Game 5 Prediction and Picks

Panthers vs Bruins Prediction: Bruins 5, Panthers 2

Panthers vs Bruins: Bruins -1.5 (Best Value: -102 at BetOnline) & Over 6.5 Goals (Best Value: -102 at BetOnline)

Many NHL fans didn’t expect the Bruins to break much of a sweat this series and that’s been true for the most part. Outside of Game 2, Boston has outperformed Florida in every facet, leaving little hope for the latter to be victorious this evening.

The Bruins are focused on bigger and better things, so I expect another one-sided performance tonight. After already recording three multi-goal victories this series, expect the home team to make it a fourth tonight.

In addition to Boston covering the spread, I recommend taking the over on the 6.5-goal total. This Panthers vs Bruins series is already averaging 6.75 goals per game, going over 6.5 in two of the last three meetings. Furthermore, six of the last eight games between Florida and Boston went over their projected total, averaging 7.48 over that span.

With the Bruins set on moving on and the Panthers hoping to stay alive, expect more goals than expected as both sides give it their all.

Other Panthers vs Bruins Betting Resources

• Panthers vs Bruins Consensus Picks, Score Projections & Betting Stats

Other NHL Stories on Betting News (April 26)

• Stanley Cup Winner Odds and Best Bets