I don't see the Bruins rallying from a 3-1 series deficit. I don't see them beating the Lightning in Tampa. So I'd rather go for the big payoff by laying 1 1/2 goals on the puck line instead of laying heavy juice on the money line.

Boston surprised Tampa Bay by upsetting the Lightning on the road in Game 1. That served as a wake-up call for the Lightning. They've won the past three games since then outscoring the Burins by a combined 12-6 goals.

The Bruins have lost in seven of their last nine away matchups. Tampa Bay has won 73 percent of its last 51 home contests. The Lightning's last six home victories all have been by more than one goal.

Boston's task is made more difficult having lost defeseman Torey Krug for the series. He suffered an ankle injury in the last game. Not only is Krug huge defensively, but he was part of the Bruins' power-play unit. The Bruins' strength had been their power-play. They haven't scored an even-strength goal during the past two games.

The Bruins have given up the first goal in each of the last three games. That's likely to prove fatal again. If the Bruins happen to be trailing by just one goal with several minutes left, it's likely they would pull their goalie giving the Lightning extra opportunities to score an open net goal and thus win by multiple goals.