NHL Playoff Betting – Canadiens vs Bruins Series Preview & Pick
Stanley Cup Betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com. Stick with us for the entire 2011 NHL Stanley cup playoff run.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SPORTSBOOK.COM’S NHL HOCKEY BETTING LINES FOR THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS!!!!
2011 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS | #3 Boston vs. Montreal #6
Thursday, April 14 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS
Saturday, April 16 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS
Monday, April 18 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m. CBC (HD), RDS
Thursday, April 21 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS
*Saturday, April 23 at Boston, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD), RDS, VERSUS
*Tuesday, April 26 at Montreal, TBD CBC (HD), RDS
*Wednesday, April 27 at Boston, TBD CBC (HD), RDS
Odds To Win Cup: Montreal +1600, Boston +850
Canadiens vs Bruins Odds To Win 7 Game Series: Canadiens +170, Bruins -200
April wouldn’t feel right without a Bruins/Canadiens series, would it? These two bitter division rivals have met for 32 different playoff series since 1928; no other NHL teams have played each other more often. Montreal owns the 24-8 series edge.
As if the series needed any more bad blood, we have the Zdeno Chara/Max Pacioretty storyline looming large. As you probably remember, Chara famously rode Pacioretty into the glass partition about a month ago, concussing him and fracturing his vertebra. Chara wasn’t suspended. The outcry ranged from sponsors trying to boycott the NHL to the Habs saying the league was biased against the Bruins to Boston accusing Pacioretty of embellishing his injury. So methinks these two teams will have no problem finding their passion.
The level of bad blood between Boston and Montreal is worth discussing because, in my opinion, it plays into Boston’s hands. Few teams, if any, are better built for a playoff war. Boston has tremendous size and grit up front. Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton gelled well together and are terrifying monsters for opposing defenders to handle on the forecheck. The 6’9” Chara needs no introduction and he has an army of courageous, shot-blocking defenders supporting him with guys like Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid. Even Tim Thomas, who just set an NHL regular-season record with a .938 save percentage, brings a bulldog mentality to every start.
It’s tough to imagine the Habs keeping up with the Big, Bad Bruins in this series. Clearly, however, it’s not just an open-and-shut case. Montreal made a miracle run in last year’s playoffs, upsetting Washington and Pittsburgh, on the strength of its scene-stealing goaltender. Then, it was Jaroslav Halak; now, it’s All-Star Carey Price, who was almost as good as Thomas this season. When he’s focused, he absolutely has the talent to baffle opposing shooters.
Some people may call Montreal a “soft” team – but that’s not entirely true. The Canadiens’ blueline absolutely has the right mental makeup for a bloody playoff battle. James Wisniewski is a warrior; Hal Gill is a giant with a long reach. P.K. Subban is a true gamebreaker who can alter the course of a series with his combination of clutch scoring ability, physicality and ability to get underneath the other team’s skin.
But, to me, the good news stops there for Montreal. I just don’t think the Habs’ forwards can hack it against the bruising Bruins. With guys like Scott Gomez, Tomas Plekanec, Michael Cammalleri and Brian Gionta leading the charge, the Habs may have some speed and finesse, but they have perhaps the league’s smallest, softest group of forwards. With the referees notoriously “letting ’em play” more in the postseason, the Bruins will probably toss the Habs around like ragdolls.
You never know when Montreal might find a way to pull off some magic. No team has a more raucous, passionate home building. The Habs also won the season series 4-2. So I doubt Boston gets out the broom here. However, I just think the current incarnation of the Bruins is a vicious matchup for Montreal. I think they’ll run through Les Canadiens relatively easily, leaving their longtime rivals battered and bruised.
Bruins vs Canadiens prediction: Bruins in 5
