NHL Betting – Bruins Favored vs. Lightning Betting Odds. The Bruins will have home ice advantage in the seven-game series which is why they are favored. Make your NHL bet right now at Sbgglobal.
Bruins -135
Boston is a -135 favorite to win the series against Tampa Bay. Because the Western Conference finals are not yet set the NHL is waiting to set the schedule for this series. It will begin sometime this week but the NHL doesn’t want the series starting too soon and the Western Conference series lagging behind. The line for Game 1 is already out though with the Bruins a -150 favorite at home with the total listed at 5.5 under. Boston has traditionally owned the Lightning at home so they could be a good play in Game 1 of this series.
Good Matchup for Boston
The Bruins swept away the Philadelphia Flyers while the Lightning shocked the Washington Capitals in NHL betting. The Bruins are the #3 seed in the East while Tampa Bay is the #5 seed. This is really a very good matchup for Boston. The Bruins are a lot tougher than the Washington team that Tampa Bay rolled over and they have better goaltending. Boston has big wingers like Milan Lucic and Scott Thornton and they have the biggest defenseman in the league in Zedeno Chara. The Bruins also have Nathan Horton, who has 22 goals and 42 points in 42 career games against Tampa Bay. Boston also has the edge in goal with Tim Thomas, who has stopped 354 of 378 shots faced in the playoffs. And if you look at one other number you have to like Boston in this series. The Bruins have hosted the Lightning 35 times and Tampa Bay has a total of four wins. That is home dominance and remember as you make your NHL bet that Boston as the home ice edge in this series.
Tampa’s Chances
The Lightning has played well in the playoffs and if Dwayne Roloson can continue to play at a high level then Tampa Bay has a shot. Tampa also needs to continue to get scoring from Sean Bergenheim and their trio of Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier and Steven Stamkos.