NHL Betting Preview – 5/5

The Boston Bruins have a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal set with the Philadelphia Flyers, but the series is far from over.

Coming off two tough losses at TD Garden, the Flyers look to cut the series deficit in half when they face off with the Bruins at the Wachovia Center in Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia was in good position to get a split in the series in Monday night’s Game 2, but Milan Lucic’s goal with 2:57 remaining lifted Boston to a 3-2 win as -140 favorites. Miroslav Satan had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, while Daniel Briere also posted a goal and an assist for the Flyers.

Philly had its chances in Game 1 when it pushed Boston to overtime, but the Bruins (-160) prevailed 5-4 on Marc Savard’s winner in the extra frame. Including Boston’s victory in Game 2, the Bruins are 4-2 against the moneyline in six games against Philadelphia this season.

Savard’s return is a huge boost to the Boston lineup after he missed two months with a concussion. Through two games in the series, Savard has the OT winner and a +1 rating to go along with just over 15 minutes of ice time per game.

Injuries have been a problem for the Bruins all season, and even with Savard’s comeback, Boston isn’t out of the woods. Marco Sturm tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Game 1 and is out for the season.

Despite Sturm’s status, the Bruins have to be happy with the state of their roster. The same can’t be said for the Flyers, who are without Jeff Carter (foot), Simon Gagne (toe), and Ian LaPerriere (concussion) indefinitely.

Later on Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks clash in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal set at GM Place with the series knotted at one game apiece.

The Canucks embarrassed the Blackhawks 5-1 as +145 underdogs in Game 1 on Saturday night at the United Center, and it looked like Monday night’s Game 2 was headed down the same path in the early going.

Vancouver jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on markers from Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson, but Chicago clawed back to tie the score early in the third. Kris Versteeg’s winner with 1:30 left was the difference, and the Hawks (-155) went on to even the series with a 4-2 victory.