NHL Playoff Free Pick Bruins vs Lightning Betting Odds

NHL Playoff Free Pick Bruins vs Lightning Betting Odds: Game Five, in any best of seven series, is usually a pivotal contest and that is certainly the case tonight. The winner will need one more victory to get to the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Finals while the loser will need to win two straight to get to the big dance.

Puck drop for this NHL Playoff betting action is slated 8:00 PM ET on Monday, May 23, 2011 from the TD Garden arena in Boston, MA.

Lightning @ Bruins – NHL Game Day Preview

For a series that featured two of the hottest goalies in the playoffs, goals have been plentiful in three of the four games so far. Take away the 2-0 Game Two and the other three match-ups have averaged 8.6 goals per game.

Goaltending will be under the spotlight tonight as Dwayne Roloson will return from his first period benching in Game Four while Tim Thomas will try to rebound from back to back five goals allowed games.

Apart from the net minders, special teams play will be another key in tonight’s match-up. Boston has been a woeful 4-52 (7.7%) with the man advantage in the playoffs. Tampa Bay meanwhile has gone 14-59 (23.7) on the power-play.

Betting Odds – Boston vs Tampa Bay – Free Pick

The betting odds for this crucial Game Five are courtesy of the BetED online sportsbook.

Boston can take some comfort in the fact that their four power-play goals have all been scored at home.

Apart from the back-to-back defeats, against Montreal in the first two games of Round One, Tim Thomas has rebounded with a win after each of his losses.

After eight straight wins, Dwayne Roloson has lost two games and has a no decision in his last three starts.

We like Thomas to out rebound, and outshine, Roloson in this NHL Playoff match-up tonight.

Take the Bruins over the Lightning at -155 on the Money Line at BetED!