Bruins vs Panthers Odds, Picks & Predictions: Defenses Shine in Battle of Atlantic Conference’s Top Teams

The Florida Panthers will host their Atlantic Divison rival Boston Bruins for a crucial early-season matchup on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. ET on TNT. This should be a tremendous game to begin an NHL on TNT doubleheader, and we are here to break down the Bruins vs. Panthers odds, picks, and predictions.

Boston has picked up right where it left off last season, as they have the most points in the NHL (29) and are atop the Eastern Conference standings. Right behind them is the defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. Through 18 games, the Panthers have 25 points and have won seven of its last eight games.

If you need help picking a side for this matchup, we have got you covered as we preview this game and give out our best Bruins vs. Panthers betting pick.

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Bruins vs. Panthers Odds: Puck Line, Moneyline, Total

Before making your Bruins vs. Panthers betting pick, we advise you to check out the odds and lines from our top-rated sports betting apps. Doing this will ensure that you get the best numbers for your wager.

Boston Bruins (13-1-3, 11-6 ATS)

The Boston Bruins just simply do not lose in the regular season. Coming off an NHL record 65-12-5 season last year, the Bruins are off to an even better start in 2023, as they have only lost one game in regulation, which came earlier this month against Detroit.

While they did lose in overtime in their last game, Boston’s offense has been firing on all cylinders lately. Over their last 10 games, the Bruins have scored 38 goals, and while the defense has not been as sharp, they are still picking up a ton of wins.

For the season, Boston ranks 11th in goals and 10th in shots per game, with a 22.8% power play conversion rate. They also rank 10th in xGoals%, which means they are due for a slight uptick in production. That isn’t hard to believe when you have guys like David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Charlie Coyle, who are all among the top point scorers in the league.

Defensively, they have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL, but overall they have a few concerning issues. Goalies Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have been brick walls the entire season. The problem is that Boston allows a ton of shots per game, and while the play between the posts has been elite, it is a hard ask for Swayman and Ullmark to keep that level of production for an entire season. We have already seen some slight regression from the goalies, as they have allowed three goals per game over their last four.

Bruins Betting Trends

• The total has gone OVER in four of Boston’s last five games.
• The total has gone OVER in four of Boston’s last six road games against Florida.
• Boston is 16-4 SU in its last 20 road games.

Florida Panthers (12-5-1, 9-9 ATS)

After a sluggish start, the Florida Panthers are back to playing great hockey. They have won seven of its last eight games, and during this streak, they have scored 31 goals, which is more than they scored in their first 10 games this season. 

While they still rank in the bottom half of the league in goals per game, Florida also ranks fourth in xGoals%, eighth in unblocked shot attempts, and they have three of the top points scorers in the league in Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart.

The Panthers also have one of the top goalie combos in the NHL with longtime veteran Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz, who allow under three goals per game. Unlike Boston, they do not allow a lot of shots per game (28.1), and they rank 11th in unblocked shot attempts against. 

Obviously, Boston’s high-powered offense will dig a little deeper into their defense, but the Panthers may be the more well-rounded team in this matchup. If they can limit Boston’s attack, Florida will be in a perfect spot to win this game, especially since they take the fifth-most shots per game. 

The Bruins won their previous matchup against the Panthers earlier this season, but Florida jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and let it slip away late. Since then, the Panthers have been trending in a positive direction on offense, and the defense was still great in that matchup, allowing only three goals and 26 shots in an overtime loss. 

Panthers Betting Trends

• The total has gone OVER in seven of Florida’s last eight games. 
• The total has gone OVER in four of Florida’s last five games against Boston. 
• Florida is 6-0 SU in its last six home games. 

Bruins vs. Panthers Prediction: Expect a Defensive Battle

Both offenses are playing at a high level right now and are due for some positive regression. While Boston has the better record and is winning more consistently, Florida has the better defense, and they have been the hottest team in the NHL over the last few weeks. 

Florida has the higher-ranked offense and defense in this matchup, but betting against the Boston Bruins has not been a wise financial decision over the last two seasons. Not only do they have the most wins in the Eastern Conference, but they have been a covering machine, with an 11-6 record ATS. 

Both teams shoot the puck a lot, but the goaltending has been elite on both sides. Boston’s defense is due for some regression, and that is not what you want to hear when going up against a Florida offense that ranks fifth in shots per game. 

However, we are going to ride with the under in this matchup. Both teams have been cashing many over tickets recently, especially against each other, but it is hard to ignore how spectacular Boston’s goalie play has been. 

Look for this game to be like their first matchup this season, and take the under. 

Bruins vs. Panthers Prediction: Under

How To Watch Bruins vs. Panthers

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023

Puck Drop: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL

Where to Watch: TNT