Will the Bruins Hold Off the Panthers in the Atlantic Division?

The race to the end of the 2023-24 NHL regular season is going to be a wild one.

While winning divisions in hockey only goes such a long way as opposed to other sports, it's still important to fight for home ice as much as you can and, of course, a higher seed. In the Atlantic Division, fans are in for a treat as arguably the best two teams in the NHL are fighting for the top spot in this closing stretch of the campaign. It's going to be the best divisional race to watch -- but who is worth betting on?

Let's check out the NHL Atlantic Division odds per FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Atlantic Division Odds

Boston Bruins (+100)

For most of the season -- scratch that. For the majority of the last two seasons, the Boston Bruins have reigned supreme over the Atlantic Division. The question is this, though: can they hold on to the lead this time around?

The Bruins weren't expected to be at the top of the league again. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retired in the offseason, and there wasn't much help added that anyone would think could replace those two. And yet, here we are.

The Bruins have the most points in the Eastern Conference (74) thanks to a 32-11-10 record. But after dropping two straight games and three of the last four since the All-Star break, the Bruins are far from a lock to maintain their lead.

Where the Bruins succeed is putting the puck in their opponent's net and keeping it out of their own -- it's as simple as that sometimes. Boston ranks 10th in Goals For per 60 minutes (3.31) and 3rd in Goals Against per 60 minutes (2.53).

Defensively, they have struggled to limit chances, however, sitting in the middle of the league with a 60.54 Corsi Against per 60 minutes. That could be problematic -- more so in the playoffs than the last 29 games of their season -- but that's important nonetheless in this final stretch.

It's tough to bet against the Bruins and the team they've become under head coach Jim Montgomery. The recent stretch has been a struggle, but there's no reason to believe it will continue. numberFire's nERD metric places Boston as the second-best team in the NHL and the best in the Eastern Conference.

Florida Panthers (+105)

Winning this division isn't anything new for the Florida Panthers. The recent trend makes it seem as though they have a good chance of doing it once again.

Florida has been impressive this season in every facet of the game. Whether it's offensive or defensive, they've dominated since getting healthy after the first month or so of the campaign.

The Panthers rank first in Shots For per 60 minutes (33.93), 2nd in Corsi For per 60 minutes (69.94), and 12th in Goals For per 60 minutes (3.2). Everything about their offense is a force and has flipped that way since Matthew Tkachuk turned around his season. The star has recorded 35 points in his last 21 games, and the Panthers are 16-3-2 in that 21-game run. That recent record is a big reason they've come so close to matching the Bruins as we approach the final few months.

But it isn't just offense that the Panthers do well. Their defense has limited opportunities for the opposition, leaving the Panthers with a 52.77 Corsi Against per 60 minutes -- a number that ranks second in the league. As a result, Florida is allowing just 2.47 Goals Against per 60 minutes, which also ranks as the second-best mark in the sport.

Everything about the Panthers is looking up at the moment, and if they're able to stay as hot as they have been -- something the numbers suggest they can do -- then this +105 number looks awfully appealing. They've played the same amount of games as the Bruins and even have more wins. They trail by only two points. They're right in it and are hot at the right time.

Looking for the latest NHL odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NHL betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.