NHL odds, preview, prediction: Bruins vs. Panthers Game 5 for Tue. 5/14

Bruins vs. Panthers Odds

Tuesday, May 14, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN & ESPN+

Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here.

Boston Bruins

It feels like the Bruins squandered their chance to get back into this series. With a 2-0 lead after the first period — and a 2-1 lead heading into the third period — in Game 4, they were in the driver's seat despite being outplayed.

But now, after Boston's 3-2 loss, it appears its season is all but over.

In each of the last two games, things have gone off the rails for the Bruins, and they've begun to spiral. In Game 3, it was Sam Bennett's controversial hit that knocked Brad Marchand out of the game — and likely the series. On Sunday, it was Bennett's controversial game-tying goal that proved too much to overcome.

Regardless, the Bruins have been largely outplayed since coming out hot in Game 1 of this series. Perhaps it was the remaining adrenaline from their Game 7 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs that propelled them to victory that night because they haven't looked the same since.

Across the Bruins' past three games, they've totaled just 50 shots on goal. They haven't exceeded 18 shots since Game 1.

Likely without Marchand — their leading scorer in this year's playoffs despite missing a game — the Bruins will need to dig deep to stay alive on Tuesday.

Despite goaltender Jeremy Swayman's brilliance, Boston is quite simply undermanned without its captain against a loaded Panthers squad.

Florida Panthers

With 6-1, 6-2 and 3-2 victories over the past three games of this series, the Panthers have emphatically quieted any concerns from their Game 1 letdown. They're starting to look more and more like last year's squad that steamrolled its way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Not only has Florida's patented physical edge begun to shine, but so has the defensive structure that's become its calling card.

The Panthers have held the Bruins under 20 shots on goal in each of the past three games, making life relatively easy for goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. In the series, they've owned 56.86% of the high-danger chances.

Offensively, captain Aleksander Barkov has risen to the occasion with eight points through the first four games of this series, while Sam Reinhart and Brandon Montour have tallied five apiece.

Goals tend to be hard to come by against Swayman, but Florida has done a nice job of making his life difficult.

Bruins vs. Panthers

Betting Pick & Prediction

Last year, it was the Panthers who found themselves down 3-1 in the series between these two teams before ultimately clawing back and winning in overtime of Game 7.

I'm not expecting this year's Bruins to enjoy a similar fate.

With Marchand banged up and the series heading back to Sunrise, it feels to me like Boston's blown lead in Game 4 was the nail in the coffin. The Bruins have struggled to get out of their own zone in this series, and that should continue on Tuesday.

I'm taking the Panthers to win by multiple goals, as they've already done twice in four games. In an elimination game like this one, there's certainly potential for some help from empty net goals, too.

Pick: Panthers -1.5 (+132 at FanDuel | Play to +120)