Boston Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Game 5 Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/10/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Eastern Conference First Round, Game 5 -- Series tied 2-2

Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC
Where to watch: ESPN

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Hurricanes -150, Bruins +130 
BetMGM: Hurricanes -145, Bruins +120
Caesars: Hurricanes -141, Bruins +120

Ben Burns has reeled off a strong 24-13-0 run over the last month in the NHL. The last week of the NHL season is here before we get cracking to playoff coverage. The postseason is here, the matchups are set, and you can count on our coverage for all the playoff matchups starting this weekend. Who's going to win the Cup? You need to be tuned in here to find out all the expert analysis. Catch Ben's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.

Bruins - Hurricanes preview and analysis


Much like every other series with exception of the now-concluded Colorado-Nashville tilt, the Carolina-Boston matchup makes absolutely no sense to me. And perhaps Game 5 will giveus that clarity needed when the Hurricanes return home to take on the Bruins.

I think it was fair to expect the home teams would win their first two. I think we spent more time thinking the Bruins were in trouble, rather than think the goalie situation would come back to haunt Carolina. But Jeremy Swayman has rallied back to make this a series again, and it might need to be Freddie Andersen to save the day eventually. 

Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, it doesn’t appear he’ll be around for Game 5 of their first-round series with all the pressure back in Carolina’s direction. The way Carolina dominated the first two games, you’d think they’d be battle-tested to go on the road and at least get a split.

But after Boston’s 5-2 win in Game 4, led by Brad Marchand’s five-point night, the Bruins are right back in the driver’s seat after shelling Antti Raanta in the second period.

"To be honest, [five points] doesn't mean anything, personally," Marchand said. "At the end of the day, if you have 10 points individually, and you lose, it doesn't matter. If you have no points, and you win, you're just as happy. So it doesn't matter in our room who scores or who puts up points. It's a team win or loss."

Marchand was one of those most quiet following the first couple of games, but is suddenly atop the league’s leaderboards in points during the playoffs and if he gets going, that’s going to be a gamechanger for Boston.

"I think early on, they tested us for sure. On our breakouts, I don't think we were as clean as we wanted to be," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Getting some momentum here will be a positive. … It's great to even [the series] and get back into it, but we haven't won anything other than getting it back to even."

Game 3 was understandable for the Hurricanes, throwing rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov into the fire and he eventually was not going to have that magic after what he did in Game 2. Raanta came back after being injured in Game 2 but completely folded in the final 40 minutes.

"It's tough. They're too good a team to just give them goals. We have no chance if that's going to happen," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "It starts over now. We'll just regroup. You should have emotion right now, it should hurt, and it should bother you. Then tomorrow you start fresh, and you're excited we've got another game to play."

The big names in Carolina did not deliver. Jordan Staal and Brett Pesce scored, but none of their names are Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov or Teuvo Teravainen. That’s the biggest difference between the two: The big names for Boston have come through in a big way, while Carolina needs their top names to produce in Game 5. I say it happens.

Prediction


Raanta is their best bet at winning this series, but Carolina can’t afford to lose this one. I don’t want to say Boston has figured them out completely, but I don’t expect this to be a blowout. We’ll actually get a competitive game and Carolina gets it done. Hurricanes win 3-2

Betting trends


Bruins are 17-4 after two straight overs this season.

Bruins are 16-11 off a home win this season, 43-26 the past three seasons.

Hurricanes are 66-41 the past three seasons off an over.

Hurricanes are 26-16 after playing a road game this season.

Projected lines


Bruins:

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk

Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- David Pastrnak

Trent Frederic -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith

Nick Foligno -- Tomas Nosek -- Curtis Lazar

Hampus Lindholm -- Charlie McAvoy

Matt Grzelcyk -- Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton

Jeremy Swayman

Hurricanes:

Andrei Svechnikov -- Sebastian Aho -- Seth Jarvis

Max Domi -- Vincent Trocheck -- Teuvo Teravainen

Nino Niederreiter -- Derek Stepan -- Jesper Fast

Jordan Martinook -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Martin Necas

Ian Cole -- Tony DeAngelo

Brady Skjei -- Brett Pesce

Brendan Smith -- Ethan Bear

Antti Raanta

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Carolina Hurricanes - Boston Bruins prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NHL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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