I’m going to pitch you a pro-Bruins angle for Game 5, but we can’t take them as -190 favorites at BetMGM. That’s not how we roll.
So let’s try to trim the juice and take Boston -110 to win in regulation.
The Islanders are a pesky team, the ultimate annoying opponent. They’re well-coached — Barry Trotz is probably the most underrated coach in hockey — and they contest every piece of the ice. They hit you, they bump you, they get under your skin. They don’t give things away.
But it’s also a team without much star power — other than the electrifying Mathew Barzal, and Semyon Varlamov when he’s on. It’s likely the Bruins will dominate puck-possession and shots again. If Varlamov doesn’t have one of his high-end games, Boston is your likely victor.
I like the Bruins off a loss, and I also like that it’s a home game but *not* a Game 7 game — home teams in Game 7 often come out tight and don’t get the benefit of the venue (think back to St. Louis beating Boston in the Finals a few years back, or the Toronto choke job from last week). I’m expecting Boston to control this game and carry a significant shot advantage, and if Varly isn’t Superman again, it should be a 60-minute affair.
Pick: Bruins win in regulation, -110
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