The Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers at TD Garden tonight, and here we look ahead to the Atlanta Division showdown with our latest free NHL betting picks.
The Bruins sit top of the Atlantic Division, and the Panthers are fourth. Boston has home advantage, and after a run of games that has seen them drop points recently, they will be hoping for a second win in two matches when they host the Florida franchise.
As for the Panthers, they are also looking to make it two wins from two when they visit Boston. So far, the 2022/23 season has been disappointing for the Panthers. So, a win at Boston could be just the ticket to get their season up and running. Here we look at their prospects.
First, look at the Vegas odds to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. The Bruins started the season way behind favorites, the Colorado Avalanche. But such has been the form of both teams. The Bruins now find themselves as the +500 betting favorites to win the 2023 Stanley Cup.
Last season’s champions, the Colorado Avalanche, are now second at +650. Jared Bednar’s team has been hit by a series of injuries, resulting in some heavy defeats of late. This has seen them go second in the betting to win the Stanley Cup.
But such is the Avalanche’s pedigree, both the best Vegas NHL betting sites and punters still believe they could come good again this season, for there is not much chance any other team in this sort of inconsistent form and position in their respective division, would be this short in the betting to win the trophy.
| Stanley Cup Winner Betting 2023 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Colorado Avalanche | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | +900 | +900 | +850 |
| New Jersey Devils | +1200 | +1200 | +1150 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1400 | +1300 | +1200 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1600 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Florida Panthers | +1800 | +1800 | +1700 |
| Calgary Flames | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| New York Rangers | +2200 | +1900 | +2000 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +2200 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Dallas Stars | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Winnipeg Jets | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
After the Avalanche comes to the Maple Leafs at +800 and the Golden Knights at +900, the New Jersey Devils have drifted to +1200 after losing their last five matches in a row.
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In their last five matches, the Boston Bruins are 3-1-1. They seem to have dropped slightly below the brilliant high standards they were setting earlier in the season.
This is to be expected, though. It’s a long and tough season in the NHL, so all sides, even the best ones, will sometimes struggle to maintain their usual standards. In their last ten matches, Jim Montgomery’s team record is 7-1-2, and over this season, their record is 24-4-2.
This exceptional start to the season sees them sitting top of the Atlantic Division with a 6-point lead over the Maple Leafs, who sit in second place. And this having played two games less than their legendary Canadian rivals.
In their last outing, the Bruins defeated the Blue Jackets 4-2 in Boston.
As for the Panthers, they are having a poor season by their admission. Florida started the season as the +200 betting favorites to win this division, so 16 points behind the Bruins shows how remarkably disappointing the Panthers have been so far in this campaign.
In their last ten matches, their record reads 5-5-0. Overall this season, they are 15-13-4.
In their last outing, the Panthers did show what they are capable of, defeating the Devils 4-2 in New Jersey. Although, as we’ve already pointed out earlier in this article, the Devils are on an extremely poor run of form.
The Bruins are -165 to win on the moneyline with the best Vegas betting sites. A win for the Panthers is +140.
On the handicap line, the Panthers are -170 with a head start of +1.5 goals. In the same market, but starting from -1.5 goals, the Bruins are +135.
Finally, total goals. Over 6.5 goals is -110, and under 6.5 is also -110.
Although the Panthers defeated the Devils in their last outing, their form has been too inconsistent this season. In fairness, they can beat anyone on their day, after all, Florida hasn’t become a bad side overnight.
All things considered, though, including the Bruins’s slight drop off in the form of late, I still feel the best value NHL betting pick is to take Boston on the handicap line at +135. The Panther’s last three defeats have all been by two or more goals, so a bet on the handicap market seems worth the extra risk.
I feel both sides will feature heavily on the scoresheet tonight on the total points spread. Panthers matches have seen goals at both ends lately. And the Bruins’ defense hasn’t been as tight recently as it was earlier in the season. Over 6.5 goals at -110 have to be the pick in this market.
