Los Angeles Kings at Boston Bruins odds, picks and predictions
The Los Angeles Kings (25-16-10) and the Boston Bruins (32-12-10) meet Saturday afternoon at TD Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Kings vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Kings have won 3 of the past 4 games, with a 7-0 stinker in Buffalo mixed in. Los Angeles picked up a 2-1 win in New Jersey last time out Thursday as a mild underdog. The Kings are 5-2 on the puck line as an underdog in the past 7 tries, winning 3 times outright.
The Bruins suffered a 4-1 loss on home ice to the Seattle Kraken Thursday night, falling for the 3rd consecutive game, all at home. The Under is on a 5-0 run for the B's, while the total has gone low in 8 of the past 9 outings. Boston has won 4 of the past 6 tries against the Western Conference.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team's out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Kings at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 8:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kings +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Bruins -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Kings +1.5 (-190) | Bruins -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Kings at Bruins projected goalies
Cam Talbot (14-13-5, 2.63 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (16-6-3, 2.64 GAA, .917 SV%, 1 SO)
Talbot was called upon in relief to finish up the third period of Tuesday's ugly 7-0 loss in Buffalo, and he allowed 2 goals on 7 shots. He is winless in his past 10 starts since a win Dec. 23 against the Calgary Flames. His January was a disaster, going 0-6-2 with a 4.28 GAA and .873 SV% in 8 starts.
Ullmark allowed 2 goals on 25 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday. He has been sharp in 2 starts and 3 appearances in February, going 1-0-1 with a 0.97 GAA and .952 SV% with a shutout of the red-hot Vancouver Canucks Feb. 8.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Kings at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Kings 2
Moneyline
The BRUINS (-155) are worth playing as moderate favorites at home, if you're a little more on the conservative side, and you don't want to lay the goal-and-a-half on the puck line.
There is some risk here, as the B's have had a power outage lately, totaling just 3 goals in the past 3 games, going 0-2-1. However, facing Talbot, who has been rather leaky over an extended period, should be the thing to get the Boston offense back on track.
Puck line/Against the spread
The BRUINS -1.5 (+155) is worth a roll of the dice on the puck line.
Again, there is risk with the Boston offense struggling in the past week. But this is a team that still averages 3.3 goals per game (GPG), while checking in 8th on the power play with a 23.7% mark. And defensively, the B's allow just 2.6 GPG, while killing penalties at a 81.5% rate.
The Kings +1.5 (-190) might be worth a play if Talbot wasn't starting, but he simply cannot be trusted when he is in between the pipes.
Over/Under
The OVER 5.5 (-110) is the lean, cashing at a 6-2 clip in the past 8 meetings in this series.
While the Boston offense has struggled lately, it could have a breakout game on home ice against the equaling disappointing Talbot.
Play this lightly, though, as the Under is 5-0 in the past 5 games, and 8-1 in the past 9 outings. And for the Kings, the Over has a slight 4-3-1 edge in the previous 8 contests, and the Over is 4-3-1 in the past 8 road outings, too.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.