Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers odds, picks and predictions

The Boston Bruins meet the Florida Panthers Tuesday in the 2024-25 season opener at Amerant Bank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Bruins vs. Panthers odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Season series: Bruins won regular-season series 4-0; Panthers won 4-2 in playoff series

The Bruins dominated the regular-season with the Panthers, outscoring Florida 13-8 in the 4-game sweep. Three of those meetings were decided by a single goal, however. The Under cashed in 3 of 4 meetings in the regular season, while cashing in the final 3 meetings in the postseason, too.

The Panthers will raise a Stanley Cup champions banner to the rafters in Sunrise on Tuesday night, and begin work on a repeat. Facing Boston is always a tall order, but this Panthers team is not going anywhere anytime soon.

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Bruins at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NHL odds. Lines last updated at 5:43 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Bruins +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Panthers -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
• Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Bruins +1.5 (-190) | Panthers -1.5 (+155)
• Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)

Bruins at Panthers projected goalies

Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 SV%, 3 SO in 2023-24) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (36-17-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%, 6 SO in 2023-24)

Swayman was slightly better on the road during the regular season, going 12-2-7 with a 2.50 GAA and .919 SV% with 1 of his 3 shutouts away from home. He made just 1 start in the regular season against the Cats, turning aside 18 of 21 shots in a 4-3 victory in Sunrise on March 26.

Bobrovsky was slightly less effective at home, but he was still 19-9-1 with a 2.51 GAA and .910 SV% with 2 SO at Amerant Bank Arena in 30 starts. He was 0-2-2 with a 3.24 GAA and .871 SV% in 4 regular-season outings against the Bruins.

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Bruins at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Bruins 3, Panthers 2

The BRUINS (+130) are worth a look as moderate underdogs. It’s a banner raising in Sunrise for the Panthers (-155), but sometimes that can be a distraction for the home team. Everything is out of sorts, the game starts later, and there is a lot of pressure to perform. The B’s will be free and easy with little pressure on them.

The Bruins +1.5 (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough return if you are looking for some insurance.

If you like Boston, just play the road team straight up. The B’s won all 4 regular-season meetings, so what’s not to like?

PASS.

UNDER 5.5 (+100) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The total went low in 3 of the 4 regular-season meetings, and it cashed in the final 3 playoff meetings last season, too.

The Under cashed in 5 of the final 6 regular-season road outings for the Bruins, too, while cashing at a 5-1 clip in the final 6 regular-season home games for the Panthers.

For more sports betting picks and tips

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