Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Preview/Prop Picks

The NHL Playoffs continue on Wednesday night, and there is a big game set to take in the Eastern Conference. The Carolina Hurricanes host the Boston Bruins in playoff action, and the home team currently holds a 1-0 series lead. 

Boston got into the playoffs as a Wild Card team in the Eastern Conference, but they are much better than that. The Bruins were blown out in Game 1 by a score of 5-1, and they have to play better in this game.

Carolina won the Metropolitan Division this season with 116 points, and they were great from start to finish. The Hurricanes don't want to suffer a loss in Game 2, which would cost them home-ice advantage. 

The Carolina Hurricanes are the betting favorites again in Game 2 as the moneyline odds are set at -116.

Boston Has to Defend

The Boston Bruins have a couple of terrific offensive performers, but this team isn't going to beat anyone in a shootout. Boston gave up five goals in the series opener, but this is a team that held opponents to just 2.66 goals per game.

Linus Ullmark really struggled in net for the Bruins on Monday night, and he is going to have to turn things around for this team. Boston held the Hurricanes to just 25 shots on goal, but five of those found the back of the net.

Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak carried the Bruins' offense this season, and they have to play well in this one. Marchand had 80 points while Pastrnak scored a team-high 40 goals. 

Carolina Cruising on Offense

The Carolina Hurricanes scored right around 3.4 goals per game this season, and that offense was clicking in the series opener. Carolina scores on the power play 22 percent of the time, but that wasn't even needed on Monday night.

Five different players scored a goal in the series opener, and that speaks to the depth and talent of this team. Sebastian Aho led the way with 37 goals and 44 assists during the regular season, but he wasn't even needed on Monday.

Carolina killed off 88 percent of their penalties during the regular season, and they have the ability to shut down anyone. Antti Raanta got the start in the series opener, and he was magnificent in the blue paint. 

Boston Bounces Back

Carolina did what they were supposed to do in the series opener, but now you should expect a big bounce back from Boston. The Bruins have been in this position before, and the veterans on that team are going to be playing desperate hockey. 

Boston can't afford to let the Hurricanes get rolling on offense, and they will play extra physical hockey in this matchup. Carolina sometimes struggles to defend when they can't get the offense rolling, and that will affect what happens in this game. 

Playing the Hurricanes in Carolina is never an easy task, but Boston will set the tone early in Game 2. Bet the Boston Bruins -1.5 as they even up the series by beating the Carolina Hurricanes by a pair of goals on Wednesday night.

Prop Picks

Boston (+170) OVER 3.5 Goals

Boston is averaging 3.1 goals per game on offense, which ranks No. 15 in the league, while producing 36.1 shots per game, which ranks No. 2. Scores have gone OVER in four of the Bruins’ last six games versus the Hurricanes.

With Dunkel predicting a Boston victory by the score of 4-3, take the Bruins (+170) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 3.5 goals against Carolina.

Brad Marchand (-150) OVER 0.5 Points

Marchand had 80 points in 70 games during the regular season, which ranked No. 1 on the Bruins. The veteran left winger had 69 points in 47 games (+/- 35) in Boston wins, compared to only 11 points in 23 games (+/- -19) in Boston losses.

With Dunkel predicting a Bruins victory, take Marchand (-150) to finish OVER 0.5 points versus Carolina.

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