Panthers vs Bruins Prediction Game 3 NHL Playoffs Picks 4/21

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Game Preview: Bruins vs Panthers (Apr 21, 2023) Pregame

The NHL playoffs are heating up and the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers will face off in game three with the series tied 1-1. NHL picks experts and NHL picks computer predictions have been eagerly anticipating this game, as the teams meet for the ninth time this season. The Florida Panthers won the last encounter 6-3, with Brandon Montour leading the way with two goals. The Florida Panthers have an 18-7-3 record in Atlantic Division play and a 42-32-8 record overall. They have scored 288 total goals to rank sixth in NHL play. On the other hand, the Boston Bruins are 19-6-3 against the Atlantic Division and 65-12-5 overall, with a 59-5-3 record in games where they score at least three goals. Carter Verhaeghe has been a top performer for the Florida Panthers, with 42 goals and 31 assists. Aleksander Barkov Jr. has three goals and 10 assists over the past 10 games. Patrice Bergeron, on the other hand, has 27 goals and 31 assists for the Bruins, with David Pastrnak scoring 10 goals and six assists over the last 10 games. The Bruins are currently favored to win, with odds of -156, while the Panthers have odds of +133. The over/under is set at 6. NHL experts picks today and best NHL bets today are being recommended by NHL analysts, with NHL picks with spread and NHL picks and parlays also being discussed. This game is sure to be a nail-biter, with NHL picks for today and NHL predictions today pointing towards an exciting and unpredictable match. Who will come out on top? Tune in to see the Bruins and Panthers battle it out in what promises to be an enthralling game.

Bruins: Offensive Analysis

When it comes to offense, the Boston Bruins have been one of the most dominant teams in the NHL this season. Led by top performers Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, the Bruins have consistently scored at least three goals per game, which has resulted in a 65-12-5 record overall. Experts agree that the Bruins stand as one of the best NHL bets today due to their exceptional offensive skill. The Bruins' offense has been particularly potent in their last 10 games, averaging 3.4 goals and 5.7 assists per game. They have also notched an impressive 9-1-0 record during that span, demonstrating their prowess for consistently putting points on the board. Furthermore, the Bruins have been successful against the Atlantic Division this season, posting a 19-6-3 record against divisional opponents. However, the Bruins cannot afford to get complacent against the Florida Panthers in game three of the first-round playoff series. Although the series is tied 1-1, the Panthers have a solid offensive record of their own, ranking sixth in the NHL with 3.5 goals per game. Additionally, the Panthers won the previous meeting against the Bruins, 6-3, with Brandon Montour leading the team with two goals. In conclusion, while the Bruins' offensive prowess has been one of their strongest assets this season, they cannot overlook the offensive capabilities of the Panthers. The Bruins will need to stay focused and maintain their offensive momentum if they hope to win game three and take command of the series.

Bruins: Defensive Analysis

The Boston Bruins will need to bring their A-game defensively if they want to take the lead in the playoff series against the Florida Panthers. In the first two games, the Bruins' defense proved inconsistent, allowing six goals in the last matchup. However, the Bruins have one of the best defenses in the NHL and will rely on their top defensive players to shut down the Panthers' offense. At the blue line, Bruins' captain Charlie McAvoy will look to lead the team alongside Brandon Carlo, Mike Reilly, and Matt Grzelcyk. McAvoy has been a rock for the Bruins all season, scoring five goals and 30 assists while averaging 24:23 of playing time per game. Carlo has also been impressive for the Bruins, ranking third in the NHL with 111 blocked shots. In net, the Bruins will turn to their veteran goaltender Tuukka Rask. Rask has been outstanding this season, posting a 2.04 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. He has won 27 games this season and will need to continue his stellar play to give the Bruins a chance to win. The Bruins will also rely on their penalty kill, which ranks fifth in the league, to shut down the Panthers' power play. With the loss of Patric Hornqvist, the Panthers' power play may lack some of its usual firepower, but the Bruins cannot take any chances and must remain disciplined. Overall, the Bruins have the talent and experience to dominate defensively and must do so if they want to come out on top in this crucial playoff series. NHL picks experts and NHL picks computer may favor the Bruins, but it will be up to the team to execute their game plan and shut down the Panthers' offense.

Panthers: Offensive Analysis

As the Florida Panthers prepare to face the Boston Bruins in game three of their tied first-round playoff series, their offense will be a key element to watch. The Panthers have scored an impressive 288 total goals this season, ranking them sixth in the NHL. Their top scorer, Carter Verhaeghe, has 42 goals and 31 assists, making him a force to be reckoned with on the ice. The Bruins, on the other hand, have a strong overall record of 65-12-5 this season and a 59-5-3 record in games where they score at least three goals. However, they will be missing Nick Foligno due to a lower-body injury and Patrice Bergeron is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. This could potentially weaken their offense. In their last ten games, the Panthers have boasted a 7-2-1 record, averaging four goals per game and giving up just 2.1 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Bruins have won nine out of their last ten games, averaging 3.4 goals per game and giving up 2.4 goals per game. The experts and computer picks are split on which team will come out on top in this game, with the Bruins being favorites with -156 odds, but the Panthers are not too far behind with +133 odds. Nevertheless, with the series tied at 1-1, both teams will be fighting hard for a victory. In conclusion, while the Bruins have a strong overall record, the Panthers have a potent offense and have been performing well in recent games. If they can continue this momentum and match the Bruins' offensive output, they have a strong chance of coming out on top in game three of the series.

Panthers: Defensive Analysis

As the Florida Panthers gear up for game three against the Boston Bruins, the defensive side of the game will be crucial for the Panthers to secure a win and take control of the series. The Panthers have been solid defensively all season, allowing an average of 2.7 goals per game, ranking 10th in the NHL. The Panthers' defense will be led by Aaron Ekblad, who has been stellar this season with 13 goals and 30 assists. The 25-year-old defenseman will be relied upon heavily to shut down Boston's top forwards. The key matchup to watch will be between Florida's defense and Boston's offense, which has been one of the most potent in the league this season. Boston has scored a league-high 310 goals (3.8 per game) this season, and they will likely be looking to exploit any weaknesses in the Panthers' defense. The Panthers will need to be disciplined defensively and limit Boston's chances in their defensive zone. In terms of goaltending, the Panthers have a solid tandem in Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight. Bobrovsky has been the Panthers' number one goaltender for most of the season, posting a 26-16-5 record with a 2.49 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage. The 23-year-old Knight, on the other hand, has been a pleasant surprise for the Panthers, going 14-9-3 with a 2.34 goals-against-average and a .930 save percentage. Depending on how the series unfolds, it will be interesting to see which goaltender the Panthers decide to go with in crucial games. Overall, the Panthers will need to continue playing disciplined defensively and limit Boston's chances if they want to take control of the series. With an experienced defenseman in Ekblad and a solid tandem in net, the Panthers have the tools to shut down Boston's high-powered offense. While it won't be an easy task, the Panthers have shown all season that they are up for the challenge.

Injury Report

As both teams prepare to face off in game three of the NHL playoffs, injury reports are important to consider for both the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers. The Panthers will be without Patric Hornqvist, who is out with a concussion. This is a significant loss for the Panthers as Hornqvist has been a key contributor throughout the season with 16 goals and 10 assists. The status of Patrice Bergeron for the Bruins is day to day due to an upper body injury. Bergeron has been a top performer for the Bruins with 27 goals and 31 assists this season. The Bruins will be hoping that Bergeron will be able to play in the upcoming game. With both teams tied at 1-1 in the series, every player counts and the loss of Hornqvist and the potential absence of Bergeron could have an impact on the game. It will be important to monitor the injury reports and see how the teams adjust their game plans accordingly. 

Prediction

The teams are tied 1-1 heading into game three, with both teams showing their strengths and weaknesses. The Bruins have been dominant throughout the regular season, finishing with an impressive 65-12-5 record and first place in the Atlantic Division. They have a powerful offense led by Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, who have combined for 37 goals in the last ten games. The Panthers, on the other hand, have been riding a hot streak of 7-2-1 in their last ten games. They have a balanced attack led by Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov Jr., who have combined for 72 goals and 41 assists this season. Despite their recent hot streak, the Panthers are facing a tough challenge in the Bruins. I predict that the Bruins will come out on top in game three, taking a 2-1 series lead. However, it won't be an easy win for the Bruins, as the Panthers will put up a good fight.

Pick: Bruins (-156)