Hot Bruins eye weekend slate
It’s been a long and busy week for the Bruins. Boston plays on back-to-back nights on Friday and Saturday this weekend, which finishes off a run of four games in six nights. The Bruins paid off for NHL betting junkies who went with them in their first two games this week, and they’ll look to extend their streak at home against Florida on Friday and in Montreal on Saturday.
Boston was at home against Buffalo on Wednesday and topped the Sabres 7-4 in a goal-fest as a -130 favorite on the NHL odds. The goalies might as well have taken the beginning of the first period off in that game after Boston and Buffalo combined to score five goals in the first six minutes. Zdeno Chara and Chuck Kobasew both netted a pair of goals for the Bruins in the win, while Marc Savard had a four-point night with a goal and three assists.
On Friday the Bruins will likely get an equally-tired Panthers squad, who will be playing their third game in four nights. The Panthers topped Tampa Bay 4-3 on Tuesday and will visit the Devils on Friday before jetting off to Boston. This is the first game this season between the Panthers and Bruins, but they split the season series last year 2-2.
The game Bruins fans should be most excited for is Saturday night’s tilt with Montreal. The age-old rivalry has some extra meaning this season with Boston leading the Canadiens in the Northeast Division.
The Bruins finally ended a long regular-season losing streak against the Canadiens last week with a 6-1 rout in Boston. Prior to that lopsided victory Montreal had won the last 12 regular season meetings between the two teams. In the Bruins’ win Marco Sturm and Stephane Yelle both collected two goals and an assist, while Manny Fernandez made 27 saves.
The Bruins and Canadiens also met in Montreal in October when the Habs escaped with a 4-3 shootout win. Montreal jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in that contest only to watch Boston scored three unanswered goals to send the game to overtime. After a scoreless extra period Alex Tanguay netted the game-winner in the shootout to give Montreal the two points. Montreal was a -170 favorite in that game, but it’s unlikely they will be that heavily favored on the NHL odds in Saturday’s matchup.
