Boston Bruins take on the Nashville Predators tonight in a showdown at Bridgestone Arena.
The Bruins are slightly favored over the Preds despite coming off a tough overtime loss. On the other hand, the Predators are still searching for their first win of the season.
The odds are close in this matchup.
Moneyline: Bruins +105, Predators -125
Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-250), Predators -1.5 (+205)
Over/Under: 6 (O -110, U -110)
The Bruins are slight underdogs on the road, but given the Predators' winless start to the season, the odds are tempting for not only us but Boston backers as well.
The Bruins come in with a 3-2-1 record after a disappointing overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.
Boston led most of the game, but the exhausted defense let Utah tie it late before losing in OT. One bright spot for the Bruins lineup, however, has been Cole Koepke, who has notched 3 goals and 3 assists through six games.
Boston is averaging 3.50 goals per game but also allowing 3.33 goals against per game. So, they’re able to get it between the pipes, but they might need some work with their defensive instability. Jeremy Swayman has been solid with a 2.98 GAA, but he will need to stay sharp against Nashville. Don’t sleep on the Preds, either, they’re a team that's struggling but still dangerous.
One area of concern for the Bruins is their power play. They are only converting 16% of the time. They'll need to capitalize on any of these chances tonight, especially since Nashville has a solid penalty kill at 86.7%.
The Predators are a woeful 0-5 to start the season. That’s what happens when you allow a staggering 4.60 goals per game.
In their last game, Nashville led 2-1 going into the third period but collapsed in the end, allowing three goals in the final frame to lose 5-2 to Detroit. It is worth noting that 2 of those goals were empty-netters, but nonetheless goals.
Goaltender Juuse Saros has had a rough start, going 0-4-0 with a 3.64 GAA. While Filip Forsberg has tried to carry the offense (2 goals, 3 assists), the team has struggled to find consistency for the full 60 minutes of hockey.
Nashville is generating a lot of shots where they’re averaging 35.4 per game which is the best in the NHL. However, their finishing has been poor, scoring just 2.00 goals per game. They’ll need to do much better if they hope to upset the Bruins tonight.
The Bruins have shown much more consistency, even if their record isn’t exactly perfect. They're scoring more, and their defense is manageable compared to Nashville's. They can use some work, but shouldn’t have a problem against the Preds.
Nashville has not looked like a cohesive team this season, allowing 4.60 goals per game and blowing leads late. The Predators’ penalty kill might be a glimmer of hope, but Boston has proven they can score, and if they can tighten up their defense, this is their game to lose.
Recent trends also favor Boston. The road team has covered the puck line in 9 of the last 10 games between these teams. Additionally, the Bruins have won 4 of their last 5 games against Central Division opponents as underdogs.
Nashville hasn’t shown they can close out games, and Boston’s offense should be able to capitalize. The Bruins have been in close games recently, and with the Predators in disarray, taking Boston on the moneyline at plus odds is a solid bet.
BettorInsiders Best Bet: Boston Bruins Moneyline (+105)