NHL betting playoffs action for Thursday includes a huge rivalry game in the Eastern Conference as the Boston Bruins host the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 of their 7-game series.

Gamblers who bet on NHL Playoffs action are looking strongly at taking the favored Bruins in this series against Montreal.

NHL betting playoffs stats tell us the Bruins were 5-0-1 against the Canadiens this season. The Bruins were superb at home this season as NHL betting playoffs numbers show going 29-6-6. Boston has the goaltending edge in this NHL betting playoffs matchup as they have Vezina Trophy favorite Tim Thomas. He was first in the league with a 2.10 goals against average and had the best save percentage in the NHL (.933). Marc Savard led the team in scoring and ranked ninth in the NHL with 88 points as NHL betting playoffs stats indicate. Forward David Krejci finished the season with the league’s best plus-minus (plus-37), while rookie forward Blake Wheeler finished the season with the league’s second-best (plus-36) as NHL betting playoffs numbers indicate.

Montreal is weaker in many areas than Boston in this NHL betting playoffs matchup. They do have one line that can score though with Alex Kovalev Saku Koivu and Alex Tanguay. Gamblers who bet on NHL Playoffs games also know that Montreal has history on their side as Boston has been known to choke in the playoffs. Goaltender Carey Price has to play better if the Canadiens are to steal this NHL betting playoffs series.

NHL betting playoffs stats tell us that Boston ranked fourth in the league on the power play, with a 23.6% success rate while Montreal ranked 13th at 19.2%. Boston was 12th in the league in penalty killing, with an 82.4% success rate while Montreal was 11th at 82.4% as NHL betting playoffs statistics show.

Boston’s Marc Savard ranked sixth in the league with 63 assists according to NHL betting playoffs numbers. Zdeno Chara led the Bruins with six points in six games against the Canadiens this year. Andrei Markov led the Canadiens with four points in five games against the Bruins this year.

Get ready to bet on NHL Playoffs odds by opening an account at SBG Global. You can bet on NHL Playoffs action between the Bruins and Canadiens and all of the other seven playoff matchups right now.