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Posted at 2:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Florida -½ over Boston

8:07 PM EST. Regulation only. The Panthers finished off the Lightning in five games and have had time to rest up for Round 2, having last played on April 29. Perhaps that long layoff could cause the Panthers to start slow here, but this is not the regular season, and with the stakes being so high, we contend that the Cats can’t wait to get back on the ice against a team they have had great success against in recent times. Most notable was Florida's comeback from being down 3-1 in the first round of last year’s playoffs against the record-setting B’s, who posted the most points in the regular season in league history. The Panthers would ride the wave of that series win all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and then they parlayed that into a very successful season that saw them post 110 points and win the Atlantic Division by 1 point over the Bruins, which is why this series will start in Sunrise.

While the Panthers were gearing up for the second round, the Bruins were in a dogfight with the Maple Leafs, who with all due respect to Les Canadiens, have become the B’s biggest rivals, as the current cores of those teams have played plenty of playoff hockey of late. The Bruins last took the ice Saturday night in an emotional Game 7 in Boston, which they won in overtime, 2-1. It’s worth noting that much like last season, the Bruins had a 3-1 series lead versus Toronto, and they were a bounce or two from going home early again after another spectacular collapse. However, David Pastrnak and more specifically, Jeremy Swayman, would send the Leafs packing with Pasta’s overtime marker and Sway’s 30-save performance.

Not only are the Bruins coming off a hard-fought and emotional series in which they just played an overtime game two nights ago, but they also beat a Leafs team that was nowhere near 100%. That series began without William Nylander for Toronto, and it ended with Auston Matthews not playing near his best. Yes, the Panthers are without Sam Bennett, but Anton Luundell has filled in his place admirably, posting four assists in five games in Round 1. The extra time off also gave Bennett more time to recover, although he is not ready to return just yet. Regardless, if the B’s, who could be running on fumes, win or force overtime tonight, so be it, but we’re willing to wager that the Cats skate circles around them and capitalize on their chances.

Sherwood

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