There may have been some rumors that there was a stomach bug going around the Boston Bruins locker room prior to Game 1, but it did not show with their play on the ice. The B’s looked strong from start to finish and were able to take the first game of the series by the score of 3-1.
Florida had a very strong effort, especially from netminder Alex Lyon, but we might not see Lyon in the blue paint for this game. There is a chance that Sergei Bobrovsky gets the nod instead.
The Bruins continued their dominance at TD Garden, and it is very tough to bet against them on home ice.
Find out my best bet in our free NHL picks and predictions for Bruins vs. Panthers on April 19.
Panthers vs Bruins Game 2 odds
Panthers vs Bruins series odds
| Team | To win | Win in 4 | Win in 5 | Win in 6 | Win in 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | +425 | N/A | +3,500 | +1,300 | +1,000 |
| Bruins | -600 | +300 | +225 | +370 | +500 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 18.
Panthers vs Bruins Game 2 predictions
The Florida Panthers are definitely not a team that you want to sleep on. But with that being said, they have lost each of their three meetings with the Boston Bruins at TD Garden this season, and all by two or more goals. In their last 26 trips to Boston, the Cats have only won six times.
The Bruins are unbelievable on home ice, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. A lot of their team success is thanks to their goaltender Linus Ullmark, who made 31 saves on 32 shots against in Game 1. His counterpart, Alex Lyon, helped carry the Panthers into the playoffs, but Monday night was his first ever start in the NHL postseason. Lyon kept his team in the game, but it is still unknown if he or Sergei Bobrovsky will start Game 2.
No matter who the Panthers decide to go with in goal, the Bruins will still have the edge in that category. The B’s were the best defensive team in the NHL all year long, allowing 2.12 goals against. Ullmark skated to a .938 SV% along with a 1.89 GAA.
Not only do the B’s keep the puck out of their net, but they also know how to finish. David Pastrnak continued his red-hot scoring from the regular season by tallying a goal in Game 1. Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand also found the back of the net in the 3-1 triumph.
Boston is simply too scary at home, and I think they take care of business once again. I like the B’s to cover the puck line in Game 2.
My best bet: Bruins -1.5 (+110 at BetMGM)
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Panthers vs Bruins Game 2 moneyline analysis
The Bruins were the heaviest favorites going into the postseason for a reason. They set a single-season record for most wins and points, but there is still the narrative around the Presidents' Trophy-winning team getting bounced early in the playoffs. The B’s are doing everything in their power to be the first team since the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks to win that trophy as well as the Stanley Cup.
The Panthers won the Presidents' Trophy last season and got swept in the second round by their in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, so this team knows everything about that curse. The Cats are a very good hockey team, but by no means do they have the depth of this Bruins roster, and that to me is the biggest difference in this series.
Let’s remember that the Bruins had a bug going around their locker room prior to Game 1, so they were missing their captain — Patrice Bergeron — for the first game. Bergeron should be back for Game 2, which will be a huge addition not only on the ice, but in the locker room.
I don’t think Florida is beating Boston on their home ice.
Panthers vs Bruins Game 2 Over/Under analysis
Playoff hockey is such a different animal. If this were a regular season game, I would probably be looking at the Over. But with how these two goalies played in Game 1, I have a feeling this series will lean more toward the low-scoring side.
Ullmark has consistently been the best goalie in the NHL all year long, and he showed it once again in the first game of this series. Lyon isn’t necessarily a household name just yet, but he put on a stellar performance in his playoff debut.
The Panthers are most likely going to try and tighten things up defensively in Game 2, as they do not want to head back home down 2-0 in this series. It will be a very difficult task to come back from that hole.
I expect another low-scoring affair with a great goaltending performance on both sides.
Panthers vs Bruins betting trend to know
The home team is 8-0 in the last eight meetings between the two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs Bruins.
Panthers vs Bruins Game 2 game info
| Location: | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Date: | Wednesday, April 19, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN |
