Bruins vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Bruins Odds | +110 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -130 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
It doesn't get any easier for Boston after suffering a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the unbeaten Florida Panthers (7-0) on Wednesday's NHL card, as the Bruins will take on a dominant Carolina Hurricanes (5-0) squad Thursday in the second leg of a back-to-back road situation.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have looked very close to what most expected throughout their first five contests this season, playing sweltering team defense in allowing the league's lowest xGA/60 at just 1.61.
That similar recipe appears likely to be the way the Bruins will need to play, as depth scoring behind the perfection line will still be far behind other Eastern powerhouses such as Florida, Tampa Bay and Carolina.
The center depth appears to be a reasonable cause for some concern, and I feel that Jack Studnicka and Erik Haula do offer a bit of a weakness when compared to the other Eastern powerhouses Boston will be looking to best this spring.
Jeremy Swayman should draw the start, with Linus Ullmark having played in Wednesday's game. Swayman has had a rough start to the year, posting just an .885 save percentage in his first two starts. However, he was superb in beginning his NHL career last season, amassing a .945 save percentage in 10 games and is likely to be a very strong secondary option this season.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina has not only won all five contests in regulation in the early going, but have managed an eye-popping +14 goal differential to boot.
With Tony DeAngelo stepping in effectively on the back end and Frederik Andersen putting together an excellent start, the perceived areas of regression after last year's excellent season look to be well under control.
Offensively, Carolina is shaping up to be very deep again and the elite talents leading the way up front in Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastien Aho have been spectacular early on, combining for 16 points in club's first five contests.
Even with the offseason loss of Dougie Hamilton, Carolina still offers a very deep defensive core, including a legitimate No. 1 defensemen in Jaccob Slavin.
Tony DeAngelo has posted four points in five games and leads the back end with a 64.2% xGF% thus far. He should he be able to be a better person off the ice, could become a very meaningful addition to a stacked defensive core at a heavily discounted rate.
Andersen has been tremendous in goal for the Hurricanes in the early going, something that probably shouldn't be as shocking as some seem to believe considering how successful his career truly has been.
Andersen has posted a .946 save % and stopped 6.8 goals saved above expected, and should draw the start here, as playing backup Antti Raanta against a Blackhawks team who have been abysmal Friday makes more sense.
Carolina is again a very legitimate contender by all reasonable measures and will have a good opportunity to test itself against one of the league's very best clubs.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins Picks
The Hurricanes are a deep, fast team who have again controlled much of the play in the early going this season on route to their 5-0 start. A year more seasoned, skating closer to their NHL primes many key offensive pieces have looked stellar, and with DeAngelo and Andersen stepping in very well to help fill perceived voids, Carolina seem a deserving new favourite to take the Metropolitan Division crown.
Boston looks to have similar issues this season with regard to the lack of offensive support behind the perfection line. And I think to say Carolina has a considerably deeper bottom six is more than fair.
Altogether I like what Carolina's roster has to offer a little more this season, particularly if Aho, Svechnikov, and Teravainen can produce results somewhat comparible to Boston's perfection line.
With Boston having played a tough contest in Florida, I'm thinking Carolina's deep offensive unit can control the better of the play and I'm willing to back the team at -130 odds.
As well, I will be keeping my eye out for Swayman's posted save total and will look to play the over should we see a number of 28 saves or lower. Carolina have loved to shoot from all areas during head coach Rod Brind'Amour's tenure, posting an average of 35 shots per game. I foresee the group controlling more of the play and posting a similarly large number.
Picks: Carolina ML (-130 — play to -140) | Jeremy Swayman (Boston) Total Over 28.5 Saves
