So much for seeding.
The Boston Bruins and New York Islanders both posted first-round upsets and will tangle in the East Division Final, which gets underway Saturday night at TD Garden. The fourth-seeded Islanders knocked off the division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, while the No. 3 Bruins needed just five games to dispatch the second-seeded Washington Capitals.
These are our favorite NHL free picks and predictions for Islanders vs. Bruins on May 29.
Islanders vs Bruins game info
• Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Date: Saturday, May 29, 2021
• Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• TV: SN360, NBC
Islanders vs Bruins odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
NHL Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonThe line opened at Boston -160, with the total at 5.5. Early action shifted the Bruins line to -190, with the total sinking to a flat 5. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, 60 percent of bets are on the Bruins with 51 percent of the money riding on the Islanders. About 54 percent of total wagers are on the Over for Game 1.
Check out the full line movement for this gameIslanders vs Bruins series odds
Islanders: +215
Bruins: -260
Islanders vs Bruins betting preview
Injuries
Islanders: W Anders Lee (Out), W Oliver Wahlstrom (Doubtful).
Bruins: D John Moore (Out), D Kevan Miller (Out), W Ondrej Kase (Out), D Jakub Zboril (Questionable), D Jeremy Lauzon (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Bruins have won 12 of the previous 18 meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Bruins.
Moneyline pick
Oddsmakers are in love with the Bruins in Saturday's series opener – and with good reason when you consider how thoroughly they dismantled one of the top teams in the NHL in Round 1. Boston rebounded emphatically after dropping the series opener and clinched the series with dominant performances in Games 4 and 5 (in which it outscored Washington by a combined 7-2).
The Islanders also caught fire at the right time, rallying to win the final three games against Pittsburgh after falling behind 2-1. The difference here? You could argue that New York had the benefit of facing a far inferior goaltender, with Penguins starter Tristan Jarry looking shaky for the majority of the series.
The Bruins' goaltending tandem of Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak is a much tougher test for an Isles team that scored the fewest goals of any team to reach the postseason. And with Boston having gone an impressive 20-7-3 at TD Garden so far this season, the Bruins are well-positioned to come out firing in the first game of Round 2.
PREDICTION: Boston (-190)
Over/Under pick
This is the time of year when bettors see a lot more 5s – and it's a tricky number at this stage of the postseason, because you can see those 3-2 results coming a mile away.
The push is definitely possible, but we're more confident in the Over. The Bruins’ offense has been clicking since their Game 1 struggles, having averaged 3.5 goals over the past four games. And while the Islanders are one of the best defensive clubs in the NHL, they still allowed Pittsburgh to average 2.67 goals (well above the Isles' season goals against average of 2.23).
Look for both sides to try and set the tone in Game 1, and with early-series contests generally higher scoring than those late-series slugfests, it's as good a time as any to jump on the O5.
PREDICTION: Over 5 (-110)
Islanders vs Bruins betting card
- Boston (-190)
- Over 5 (-110)
Picks made on 5/29/2021 at 9:10 a.m. ET
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