As the long Olympic Break approaches for the NHL, games become more pressure-packed and carry massive playoff implications. On Wednesday night, one of the biggest games of the year takes place in Sunrise, Florida.
The 2-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers face a challenging road to the postseason, currently sitting 6th in the Atlantic Division and outside of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket (11th).
While there is a path to the playoffs, a recent three-game losing streak and a roster depleted by injuries have placed the defending back-to-back champions in a "chase" position. The return of superstar Matthew Tkachuk on January 19 has provided a morale and statistical boost, but the team's depth remains tested.
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins are currently in a "bubble" position for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, holding the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite a resurgent stretch in which they are 8–1–1 in their last 10 games, they remain in a tightly contested race in the Atlantic Division. Most gamblers consider the Bruins a toss-up to qualify for the postseason.
Wagering interest is high in this matchup of top contenders and power brands. Also, a TNT telecast adds to the appeal.
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Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers Betting at Bookmaker
Amerant Bank Arena is the venue for the matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Faceoff time is at 7 p.m. ET with television coverage on TNT.
For Boston, Elias Lindholm (C) is out with an upper-body injury; did not travel for the Florida road trip. Additionally, Pavel Zacha is out with an upper-body injury sustained on Jan 29 and is expected to miss this game. Meanwhile, Hampus Lindholm (D) is active. He recently returned from injury and was added to Sweden's 2026 Olympic roster.
For Florida, Brad Marchand (LW/C) is a game-time decision due to an undisclosed issue. Previously, Marchand exited the Jan. 29 game against the St. Louis Blues after just 11 minutes. Coach Paul Maurice indicated this is an aggravation of the lower-body injury that caused him to miss seven games earlier in January. He is expected to be re-evaluated before the game. Additionally, Anton Lundell (C) is day-to-day with an upper-body issue. Lundell sustained an upper-body injury on Jan. 27 against the Utah Mammoth. He missed both the St. Louis and Winnipeg games.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are 32-20-3 straight up and 31-23-1 over/under the total. Also, Boston is 7th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Boston is five points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Late on, Boston has covered eight out of their last ten games. The Bruins have gone under the total in one of their previous eight matchups.
Boston ranks 9th in goals scored and 4th in power-play efficiency. Compared to defense, the Bruins rank 19th in goals against and 22nd in penalty killing.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are 28-23-3 straight up and 31-23 over/under the total. Also, Florida is 11th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Florida is six points behind the New York Islanders for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Late on, Florida has covered three out of their last seven games. The Panthers have gone over the total in four of their previous five matchups.
Florida ranks 20th in goals scored and 22nd in power-play efficiency. Compared to defense, the Panthers rank 23rd in goals against and 8th in penalty killing.
Bruins at Panthers Betting Trends
In the series between the Panthers and Bruins, Florida has had the recent advantage. To illuminate, the Panthers got the money in seven of their most recent ten games against the Bruins. Four of the last five games between Florida and Boston went over the total.
Bruins at Panthers Bookmaker Best Bets
With Matthew Tkachuk's return, the Panthers are a vastly improved team. As mentioned earlier, Florida owns this series.
Main Pick: Florida Panthers
Over/Under Pick: Over the Total
Player Prop Picks: Matthew Tkachuk Over the Points Total
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