NHL Betting Picks for Monday 5/6/24: Bruins, Panthers Set for Competitive Game 1

It's a one-game night on the Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule as a big Game 1 takes place between Eastern Conference rivals.

Whether it's moneylines or total goals, there are plenty of ways to bet on the NHL action all season. It's a long 82-game campaign, meaning that the best selections of each night can be very different based on backup goalies coming into play, injuries that add up, and if teams are due for positive or negative swings.

Let's dive into the best bets for tonight.

Note: Lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. All NHL betting odds and totals are from the NHL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All advanced statistics are used from MoneyPuck.com and NaturalStatTrick.com.

NHL Best Bets

Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers

Under 5.5 Goals (-122)

Following a Game 7 win in the first round, the Boston Bruins are headed right back into action against the Florida Panthers.

Florida wrapped up their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning a week ago, finishing up in Game 5. Time off can be a good thing and a bad thing -- as the Stanley Cup Playoffs have shown year after year. There's no doubt the talent of the Panthers, and they'll get their shot to take advantage of a beat-up (and likely tired) Bruins team that just earned their spot Saturday night in overtime.

Due to the long layoff of the Panthers and the recent play of the Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs, taking Under 5.5 Goals (-122) is the move for this game.

The goaltenders in this series will be on full display with Sergei Bobrovsky and Jeremy Swayman between the pipes. Despite playing more games, the Bruins led the first round with just 1.70 goals against per 60 minutes (GA/60). Swayman was the story of the first round, posting a 1.49 goals against average (GAA) and .950 save percentage (SV%) in his six starts.

Bobrovsky didn't have the best first round, putting together a 2.78 GAA and .896 SV%, but it's worth noting that in the last game he played, he held the Lightning to just a single goal on 32 shots. Boston didn't score to the highest rate in the first round, entering tonight with just 2.55 goals for per 60 minutes (GF/60) in the playoffs.

This game figures to be a low-scoring start to the series as these two teams reignite their rivalry, so consider the under with confidence.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.