The NHL Eastern Conference Finals Playoff Games have arrived as Pickswise will be handing out daily winning NHL picks starting on Thursday. With over a decade of combined winning experience, Pickswise is your number one NHL Eastern Conference Finals playoff resource to win. To kick off the NHL Eastern Conference Finals games, the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins from the Eastern Conference will go toe to toe. Enjoy these free NHL Eastern Conference Finals playoff predictions? Give @Pickswise a follow and get a first hand-look on his daily research.
Hurricanes vs. Bruins Eastern Conference Finals Predictions
Game 1: Hurricanes vs. Bruins
Line: Bruins -155
Pickswise Expert Picks: Bruins ML / WIN
The script has flipped just a bit for the Carolina Hurricanes as they head into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Boston Bruins on Thursday. In round two, the Hurricanes were coming off a seven-game thriller against Washington and faced an Islanders squad that was playing the opener on nine days of rest following a four-game sweep of Pittsburgh. New York never regained its form and promptly got swept by Carolina. Will something similar happen to the ‘Canes, who are now playing on five days of rest whereas Boston is coming off a tougher six-game set against Columbus? Probably not…but the advantage at least in Game 1 should go to the Bruins.
In addition to their momentum (they have won three straight games all in regulation by a combined margin of 11-4), the Bruins are a juggernaut at home. They went 29-9-3 inside TD Garden during the regular season and beat the Blue Jackets in two of three there–falling only once in double-overtime. Forward Brad Marchand, forward David Pastrnak, and defenseman David Krejci have all reached the double-figures mark in points during these playoffs. Carolina is 0-4 in its last four at Boston. The Bruins are 6-2 in their last eight overall, 55-23 in their last 78 at home, and 5-1 in their last six head-to-head against the ‘Canes. It is also worth noting that the home team is 7-2 in the last nine installments of this rivalry. BOSTON is the clear choice for Game 1.
Game 2: Hurricanes vs. Bruins
Line: Bruins -160
Pickswise Expert Picks: Canes ML / WIN
The Carolina Hurricanes erased a 2-0 deficit in their first-round series against Washington. Thus they know the same hole against the Boston Bruins would not necessarily be crippling, but at the same time the visitors will be playing with a whole lot of urgency on Sunday. Carolina fell 5-2 on Thursday, but it was much more competitive than the score suggests. The ‘Canes led 2-1 in the third period before things got away from them late.
Goalie Petr Mrazek is back from a three-game absence due to a lower-body injury and should improve in Game 2 with a start under his belt. On the other end of the ice, Sebastian Aho (one goal on Thursday), Jaccob Slavin, and Jordan Staal have reached the double-digit mark in playoff points. Carolina is 39-18 in its last 57 overall, 6-1 in its last seven against teams with winning records, and 5-1 in its last six following a loss by at least three goals. The Hurricanes will likely bounce back again and even this series.
Game 3: Hurricanes vs. Bruins
Line: Canes -120
Pickswise Expert Picks: Canes ML / WIN
It’s mostly bad news for the Carolina Hurricanes; there’s no way around that. But not entirely. Although they trail the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins 2-0 and have been outscored 11-4, the Hurricanes are returning home and also have recent experience of erasing this same deficit. Carolina dropped the first two at Washington in the first round but stormed back to prevail in seven. In that series, the underdogs won Game 3 and Game 4 at home by a combined 7-1 margin to even things at 2-2.
If nothing else, the Hurricanes at least managed to score the last two goals in Sunday’s 6-2 setback. Teuvo Teravainen lit the lamp once for his fourth goal in the past four outings and he is joined in double-digit playoff points by Jaccob Slavin, Sebastian Aho, and Jordan Staal. Justin Williams added a goal for his seventh postseason point and he will be a man on a mission in Game 3 after getting swindled into a penalty by an instigating Brad Marchand on Sunday (the Bruins eventually scored on that power play for a 4-0 lead). Boston is 5-12 in its last 17 on the road against teams with home winning percentages over .600. Carolina is 21-6 in its last 27 at home. Also keep in mind that the home team is 7-2 in the last nine head-to-head matchups. I’m counting on the ‘Canes to bounce back and start making things interesting.
Game 4: Hurricanes vs. Bruins
Line: Bruins -120
Pickswise Expert Picks: Bruins ML / WIN
The Carolina Hurricanes brought out the brooms against the Islanders not too long ago, but now they are they ones who could be swept right out of the playoffs on Thursday night. It’s a must-win situation for the home team in Game 4, as it trails the Boston Bruins 3-0 after dropping the first three contests by a combined 13-5 margin. The difference in playoff experience between these two franchises has become obvious; Carolina is making costly mistakes via penalties and defensive lapses while failing to generate much of anything on the offensive end. Forward Justin Williams has recorded only one point during this series and it came on a meaningless late goal in a blowout 6-2 road loss last weekend. His team has scored just five goals through three contests.
As for Boston, goalie Tuukka Rask boasts a 1.96 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage during these playoffs. The Bruins are enjoying a six-game winning streak dating back to their last series against Columbus and their propensity for fast starts is just part of the reason why they should be able to extend it to seven. They have scored the first goal in all three games against Carolina, including the first six of Game 2 and the first two on Tuesday. Boston is 5-1 in its last six on the road, 23-7 in its last 30 playing on one day of rest, and 8-0 in its last eight conference final games. The Hurricanes are 1-7 in its last eight against teams with winning percentages over .600 and 0-7 in their last seven conference final games. It’s clinching time for the BRUINS.
