Hurricanes vs Bruins odds - how Bruins will finish off the pesky Hurricanes
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Boston was on the brink of being an online sports betting casualty, but they’ve fought back from a 3-1 deficit in their second-round series to force a seventh and deciding game against Carolina. The Bruins are heavy sportsbook favorites at home on Thursday, and TD Banknorth Garden in Beantown gives Boston a tremendous advantage.
- Thomas outplaying Ward late in the series
- Chara shutting down Staal
- Boston is almost unbeatable at home
Mark Recchi and Steve Montador gave Boston an early 2-0 lead in Game 6 in Carolina, and as Marc Savard and Chuck Kobasew added singles, they held on for a 4-2 win. Tim Thomas made 31 saves for the Bruins, and 13 of those came in the final 20 minutes as the Hurricanes piled the pressure on. Zdeno Chara and defensive partner Dennis Wideman have been doing a great job on Carolina’s Eric Staal, and the Bruins have now allowed just two goals in the last 120 minutes of hockey. Savard was injured in Game 6, but he says his knee will be fine for this crucial game.
Matt Cullen and Sergei Samsonov scored for the Hurricanes, who wasted a 33-19 shot advantage with a rough start. Staal notched his first point in two games, but he’s been far from the player who gave the Hurricanes a 3-1 series with a pair of goals in Game 4. Cam Ward stopped only 15 of the 19 shots he faced, and this was the second straight game in which he’s allowed four goals. With Thomas playing the way he is, the 2006 Conn Smythe winner simply needs to be at the top of his game on Thursday.
Hockey betting odds have made the Bruins a -220 home favorite in this contest, and it’s safe to say that Game 2’s 3-0 loss at TD Banknorth Garden was an anomaly. That was a combination of Ward standing on his head, as well as a horrible game from Chara, which allowed Staal to put up a goal and an assist. The Bruins have the momentum in the series now, and they were the best team in the East at home all season long, so even a monumental effort from Staal won’t save the Hurricanes. With Thomas on fire and Savard orchestrating the offense, Boston is a prime pick to advance to the next round.
For more NHL picks en route to the Stanley Cup, head to the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
