Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins odds, picks and predictions
The Tampa Bay Lightning (28-20-5) wrap up their 4-game road trip against the Boston Bruins (32-11-9) Tuesday. Puck drop at TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Lightning vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Both teams enter having lost 2 of their last 3 games. This is the 3rd matchup between these squads this season: Tampa Bay won 5-4 in OT Nov. 20, while it was Boston exacting revenge with a 7-3 victory Jan. 6.
LW Brad Marchand is set to play in his 1,000th game Tuesday evening. The Bruins captain is 2nd on the team in goals (25) and points (48) behind RW David Pastrnak. Pasta's 75 points is good for 3rd in the NHL, only Tampa Bay RW Nikita Kucherov (89) and Colorado Avalanche C Nathan Mackinnon have recorded more.
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Lightning at Bruins odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Lightning +126 (bet $100 to win $126) | Bruins -152 (bet $152 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Lightning +1.5 (-194) | Bruins -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +104 | U: -128)
Lightning at Bruins projected goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy (17-11-0, 2.79 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (16-6-2, 2.67 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO)
This goaltending matchup features the leaders among active goalies in all-time save percentage: Ullmark owns the top spot (.919) with the Big Cat in 2nd (.918). Vasilveskiy was 1 of 3 Lightning Radio Stars of the Game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets this past Saturday night as he stopped 33 shots.
Ullmark, last season's Vezina Trophy winner, earned his 1st shutout of the season and 7th of his career in his last start Thursday, blanking the Vancouver Canucks 4-0. The 30-year-old discussed how it was 1 of the team's best wins of the season after Boston was totally outplayed by the Calgary Flames in a 4-1 loss last Tuesday.
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Lightning at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Lightning 2
Moneyline
PASS.
Boston (-152) has won 7 out of the last 9 meetings against Tampa Bay and Vasilevskiy gave up 6 goals in the last matchup, tied for the most he's allowed in a game this season. I certainly understand backing Boston in this spot, but with the juice being so high, I would rather get plus-money on the puck line and hope for a late game empty-net goal.
Puck line/Against the spread
BET BRUINS -1.5 (+160).
Sure, the Bolts earned a road victory over Columbus in their last game, but they were outscored 9-3 against both New York teams last week. Without D Mikhail Sergachev and against tougher competition once again, it's tough to see a scenario where Tampa earns another win away from Amalie Arena.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 6.5 (-128).
Only the Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers surrender fewer goals against per game than Boston (2.58), and only 5 squads have allowed less power-play goals than Tampa.
The goaltenders in this matchup seem to be rounding into form after dealing with injuries this season: Vasilevskiy missed the 1st 2 months recovering from a back injury, while Ullmark avoided major harm but dealt with pain last month in the aftermath of a lower body injury vs. Arizona. Expect these All-Star goaltenders to come up with big stops and keep this game under the total.
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