Bruins vs Panthers Game 5 Prediction NHL Playoffs 4/26

© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Panthers vs. Bruins (Apr 26, 2023) Pregame

The Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers in the first round of the NHL Playoffs with a 3-1 lead in the series. With just a few hours left for the game, let's take a closer look at the match-up and what we can expect from both teams. The Bruins come in as heavy favorites at -242, while the Panthers are the underdogs at +197. The over/under is set at six, which means we could potentially see a high-scoring game. NHL picks experts, NHL picks computer, and NHL picks em predictions all favor the Bruins to win, but in the playoffs, anything can happen. This is why it's always good to follow NHL today experts, who give a good idea of how both teams are performing lately. The Panthers will have to win this game if they want to remain in the playoffs, and best NHL bets today point to a Panthers win with a spread. NHL picks with spread could also be the way to go if you're confident in the underdogs to pull off the upset. Both teams have top performers who could make a big impact in the game. David Pastrnak has been on fire for the Bruins, while Matthew Tkachuk has been leading the way for the Panthers. 

Panthers: Offensive Analysis

The Florida Panthers find themselves with their backs against the wall as they head into Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Despite having a talented offensive squad, the Panthers have struggled to find consistent success against the Bruins in this series, now trailing 3-1. One of the key issues for the Panthers has been their lack of production on the power play. They have only converted on two of their 15 power play opportunities in this series, which is not good enough against a team as dominant as the Bruins. Additionally, the Panthers need their top players to step up in this do-or-die game. Matthew Tkachuk has been one of the few bright spots for the Panthers in this series, but he cannot do it alone. Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov must find a way to contribute on the score sheet if the Panthers hope to extend this series. However, the biggest challenge for the Panthers will be solving the Bruins' suffocating defense. Boston has held the Panthers to only six even strength goals in four games, an average of just 1.5 per game. Without figuring out a way to break the Bruins defense, the Panthers will continue to struggle for offense. Overall, the Panthers will need to find a way to score early and often if they hope to come away with a win in Game 5. Their power play must finally deliver and their top players must step up. However, given the Bruins' dominance in this series, it is difficult to predict a Panthers offensive explosion. 

Panthers: Defensive Analysis

The Florida Panthers have a tough task ahead of them as they face a 3-1 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. However, the Panthers have a strong defensive core that gives them a fighting chance in Game 5. The Panthers' defense is led by Aaron Ekblad, who unfortunately is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Ekblad, a former first overall pick, is one of the league's most underrated defensemen and has been instrumental in the Panthers qualifying for the playoffs. However, even without Ekblad, the Panthers' defense remains solid. MacKenzie Weegar and Gustav Forsling have emerged as top-tier defensemen in their own right, with Weegar leading the team in blocked shots and Forsling playing a shutdown role with 29 takeaways. Both defensemen possess excellent skating and passing abilities, making them a threat offensively as well. Additionally, veteran defenseman Keith Yandle provides stability on the power play, leading the team in power-play points with 26. Yandle's passing ability and puck-moving skills are key to the Panthers' transition game. The Panthers also have a solid goaltender in Sergei Bobrovsky, who has been playing some of his best hockey of late. Bobrovsky has a .935 save percentage and a 2.17 goals-against average in his last ten games, giving the Panthers a chance to win even in low-scoring games. Overall, the Panthers have a well-rounded defense that can withstand the Bruins' potent offense. If they can limit Boston's scoring opportunities and find some offense of their own, they could force a Game 6 in this series.

Bruins: Offense Analysis

The Boston Bruins have been an offensive powerhouse all season, boasting a league-leading 301 goals scored. They have been especially dominant at home, where they have a 21-6-3 record against the Atlantic Division. David Pastrnak has been the driving force behind the Bruins' offense, scoring 61 goals and adding 51 assists. He will be a key player for them in this game against the Florida Panthers. Tyler Bertuzzi has also been a strong contributor for the Bruins, with four goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games. On the other hand, the Panthers have struggled defensively, giving up an average of 2.6 goals per game in their last 10 games. They also lead the league in penalties, averaging 4.7 penalties per game. Matthew Tkachuk has been a standout player for the Panthers, with 40 goals and 69 assists on the season. Carter Verhaeghe has also been hot lately, with seven goals and two assists in the last 10 games. Overall, the Bruins have the clear advantage in offense and are expected to dominate the offensive side of the game. As NHL picks experts and NHL predictions today suggest, this game could be a high-scoring affair, with the Bruins coming out on top. NHL picks computer and NHL picks EM predictions also favor the Bruins, making them the best NHL bets today. NHL picks with spread and NHL picks odds also heavily favor a Bruins victory. All in all, the Bruins offense will be the key to their success in this game and throughout the playoffs. As NHL picks and parlay and NHL picks and parlays suggest, a Bruins victory is highly likely in this matchup against the Panthers.

Bruins: Defensive Analysis

As the Boston Bruins host the Florida Panthers for Game 5 of the NHL Playoffs first round, they come in with a 3-1 series lead. The Bruins have been a dominant team throughout the regular season, posting a record of 65-12-5, and show no signs of slowing down. Defensively, the Bruins have been one of the strongest teams in the league, with a dominant defensive line led by Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. The Bruins have allowed just 174 goals this season, which is the third-lowest in the NHL. The goalie tandem of Tuukka Rask and Jeremy Swayman has also been a key component to the Bruins' success. Both Rask and Swayman have a save percentage of .925, which is among the best in the league. The Bruins' penalty kill has also been a force to be reckoned with, ranking eighth in the NHL with an 83.7% success rate. With the Panthers leading the league in penalties, the Bruins will need to maintain their discipline and continue to play strong defense to avoid giving up any power-play goals. The Panthers have a tough challenge ahead of them as they try to crack the Bruins' strong defense. They will need to rely on their top-performing players such as Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe to get past the Bruins' defensive line and score some goals. In conclusion, the Bruins' defensive strength has been a key factor in their success this season and will continue to be a key component for them in this playoff matchup. NHL picks experts and computer models alike are likely to favor the Bruins as the best nhl bets today, with nhl picks and parlay for the Bruins being a good option. The Bruins' strong defense will be crucial for them as they look to close out the series against the Panthers and move on to the next round of the playoffs.

Injury Report

The injury report for the Panthers vs. Bruins game is crucial to understanding the potential outcome of the game. The Bruins are currently missing Nick Foligno due to a lower-body injury, while Patrice Bergeron is day to day with an upper-body injury, and David Krejci is also day to day with an upper-body injury. On the other hand, the Panthers are missing Anthony Duclair, who is day to day with an undisclosed injury, and Patric Hornqvist is out with a concussion. Aaron Ekblad is also day to day due to an undisclosed injury. These injuries may affect the outcome of the game, as both teams are missing valuable players. However, the Bruins have been dominant in their previous games, winning nine out of their last ten games and averaging 3.8 goals per game. If the Bruins continue their form, they should be able to secure a victory over the Panthers. In contrast, the Panthers have won five out of their last ten games and average 3.6 goals per game. Without their star players, they may struggle against the Bruins' dominant form. In conclusion, the injury report suggests that the Bruins have a greater chance of winning the game due to their dominant form and the absence of key players on the Panthers team. However, anything can happen in the NHL playoffs, and both teams will be giving it their all to secure a win.

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