Lightning vs. Bruins Series Odds
(TheSpread) – The Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning begin the 2011 NHL Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday with both teams vying for a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Bruins are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference while the Lightning are the No. 5 seed.
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog.com Boston is the favorite to win this series with odds of -135 while Tampa Bay has a money line of +115.
Boston defeated No. 6 Montreal in the opening round in six games and then followed that up with a sweep of No. 2 Philadelphia in the second round. The Bruins are 4-1 in road games this year in the playoffs. Boston has been led by center Patrice Bergeron, who has 12 points on two goals and 10 assists.
Tampa Bay opened the playoffs by beating No. 4 Pittsburgh in seven games and then sweeping top-seeded Washington in four games. The Lightning are 5-1 in games on the road in this playoff run. Tampa has been led by Martin St. Louis, who has 13 points on six goals and seven assists.
These two teams have faced off four times this season and Boston has won three of the four games, scoring a total of 15 goals while Tampa has posted just 8 goals. The Bruins were favored in three of the four games.
Trends show that the Lightning are just 3-18-4 in their last 25 games in Boston and 13-32-5 overall in their last 50 games with the Bruins. Boston is also 6-1 in its last 7 games as a favorite.
In terms of injuries, Tampa Bay defenseman Matt Smaby is out indefinitely with a lower body injury while Bergeron is out for the series opener with a concussion for the Bruins.
2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals Odds – Lightning vs. Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning +115
Boston Bruins -135
Lightning vs. Bruins Series Schedule
Saturday, May 14 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 17 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Thursday, May 19 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Saturday, May 21 at Tampa Bay, 1:30 p.m. NBC, TSN, RDS
*Monday, May 23 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 25 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Friday, May 27 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
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