One more win against the Carolina Hurricanes means at least four more Boston playoff games in the next round, and the latest playoff odds favor the Bruins to give fans just that.
Massachusetts residents who want to bet on the Bruins advancing have multiple options close by for doing so legally.
The latest Bruins playoff odds at NHL betting sites
The schedule has Boston and Carolina facing off in game five of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 4 p.m. ET.
NBC Sports Network will carry the game.
After a late rally in game four on Monday night, the Bruins lead the series 3-1. Boston scored four goals in the third period of the game to push the Hurricanes to the brink of elimination.
That’s understandably inspired confidence in Boston on the behalf of another Boston brand. DraftKings, which makes its headquarters in the capital city of Massachusetts, has the Bruins -148 to win game five.
While NHL betting sites remain illegal in Massachusetts, bettors have a couple of options for legal wagering just across state lines. Crossing over into either New Hampshire or Rhode Island provides those opportunities.
The Rhode Island Lottery offers its own online sports betting app in that state. In New Hampshire, DraftKings is the New Hampshire Lottery’s sportsbook operator of choice, available either online or just recently at a retail location as well.
DraftKings’ spread on Boston for Wednesday’s game is -1.5 (+175). The sportsbook’s total for the same game is 5.5, with the over sitting at +112 and the under resting at -137.
DraftKings also offers a wide array of props, like correct score markets and wagers on which player will score the game’s first goal.
There are some interesting trends that bettors should pay attention to in this matchup.
Live betting might be the way to go on Wednesday
The DraftKings Sportsbook app in Massachusetts offers several microbets for game five, including markets on which team will outscore the other in individual periods. That’s the subject of one significant trend.
Carolina has won the second period in five of their last eight games as an underdog coming off a loss. If five out of eight isn’t a convincing pattern for you, there are other trends.
In the third period of eight of the last nine games in which the Hurricanes were underdogs to Atlantic Division opponents, the over on a total of 1.5 goals has hit. Monday’s game was one of those eight times.
While third-period goals have been abundant in Carolina games of late, that hasn’t been the case for Boston day-games. The under has hit in eight of the last nine games that the Bruins have started before 5 p.m. ET.
If you’re considering that -148 line on Boston to win outright, it’s hard to advise against that bet. The Bruins are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games against the Hurricanes straight up.
By the time Boston takes the ice on Wednesday, their opponent for an Eastern Conference semifinals series may already be set. The New York Islanders will go for a sweep of the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
If we have a Bruins-Capitals series starting later this week, DraftKings will have markets for game one of that series for Massachusetts bettors to take advantage of. Those opportunities will be just a short drive away.
There’s some business yet to attend to on Wednesday, however.
