Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins odds, picks and predictions
The Tampa Bay Lightning (19-16-5) and Boston Bruins (23-8-6) meet Saturday evening. The opening faceoff at TD Garden is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Lightning vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Tampa Bay is closing out a 3-game road trip which opened Jan. 2. On Thursday, the Lightning downed the Minnesota Wild 4-1 to level their voyage at 1-1-0. For a scuffling defensive club, the lone goal allowed marked just the 2nd time in the Bolts' last 13 games they have held an opponent under 3 goals.
The Bruins are 4-1-0 across their last 5 games. The 1 loss came in Boston's last game, a 6-5 home-ice setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday. The Pens' goal output equaled what the Bruins had yielded over their 3 previous games combined.
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Lightning at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Lightning +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Bruins -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-175) | Bruins -1.5 (+145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: 100)
Lightning at Bruins projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (9-8-0, 2.83 GAA, .902 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (12-5-2, 2.72 GAA, .918 SV%)
Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of 23 pucks Thursday at Minnesota. That effort was on the heels of dodgy starts bracketing the New Year that saw the 29-year-old post an .833 SV%.
Ullmark last played on Tuesday, turning aside 26 shots while allowing 1 goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner has clocked just 2 under-.850 SV% starts over the last 2 seasons.
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Lightning at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 3, Lightning 2
Moneyline
Boston is the worthy favorite, but expected-goal and puck-possession analytics have been trending south a bit for the Bruins' offense. Tampa Bay has had some road struggles, going 8-11-2 in away games, and has not closed previous trip-enders with much success. A PASS is the best play.
Puck line/Against the spread
STEER CLEAR: look to the total and some room underneath for the best value in this game.
Over/Under
The Under is 4-1-1 in Tampa's last half-dozen games, and it is 3-1 across the last 4 games of this series. The last 5 series games played at TD Garden have also cashed on the Under.
Vasilevskiy has been looking stronger after gradually returning from back surgery.
The Boston powerplay has been strong this season but is just 1 for its last 7. The Bruins' recent 5-on-5 action on offense has yielded bottom-tier expected-goal figures.
BACK THE UNDER 6 (+100).
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