The Boston Bruins (3-3-1) host the Dallas Stars (5-2) tonight at TD Garden, with both teams looking to rebound from their recent losses.
The Bruins were shut out 4-0 by the Nashville Predators in their last game, while the Stars fell 4-2 against the Buffalo Sabres. So, it goes without saying that these teams have had a rough week.
This game will be a clash of contrasting strengths, with the Bruins needing offensive improvement and the Stars boasting one of the best defenses in the league.
Moneyline: Boston Bruins -122 / Dallas Stars -102
Over/Under: 5.5 goals
The Bruins are slight favorites for the Thursday night matchup. Despite their recent struggles, the bookmakers are still seeing them as the ones that will win out. On top of that, the total is set at 5.5 goals which means they’re also thinking this will be a moderately low-scoring game.
Before you place your bets, it’s always a good idea to dig in and see how each team stacks up.
Boston has been inconsistent in the early part of the season. That goes without saying by looking at their .500 record.
Their offense has only averaged 3 goals per game, ranking them 19th in the NHL. Their defense isn’t much better as it has allowed 3.43 goals per game, sitting at 20th in the league.
In their last game against the Predators, they managed 33 shots but were unable to find the back of the net, which goes to show their scoring inefficiency.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman faced a barrage of 41 shots, saving 38, which kept the game from getting completely out of hand. So, it seems he’s able to do his part but if the Bruins want to keep their hopes alive, the defense is going to have to keep those shots to a minimum.
For Boston to bounce back, their defense will need to tighten up, and the offense must capitalize on scoring chances. This will be particularly challenging against the Stars' stingy defense.
The Stars come into this matchup as one of the NHL’s top defensive teams. They’ve allowed just 1.86 goals per game, ranking 3rd overall.
Goalie Jake Oettinger has been phenomenal with a .941 save percentage, and their defense as a unit has been consistently strong.
However, their offense has been less reliable, ranking 22nd with just 2.71 goals per game.
Dallas struggled in their last outing against Buffalo, managing only two goals. While Tyler Seguin found the net, there were not too many other bright spots.
If the Stars' offense doesn’t step up, they could be vulnerable in this game despite their defensive dominance.
The underdog has won the last three matchups involving the Stars.
Dallas has struggled at TD Garden, losing five straight night games there.
The home team has covered the puck line in six of the last seven games between these two teams.
Boston has struggled in one-goal games, holding a 1-1-2 record in such contests.
This game is set to be a defensive battle, with both teams facing offensive challenges. It’s no wonder that the total is set at 5.5 goals.
The Bruins' offense has been unreliable, and the Stars’ defense has been one of the best in the league.
Given these factors, the under 5.5 goals looks like a pretty decent bet to us. Dallas' defense should continue to limit Boston's scoring opportunities, and the Stars' offense might not be able to do enough to push the game over the total. We like the under.
As for the winner, while the Stars have been excellent defensively, their struggles at TD Garden cannot be overlooked. We think the Bruins are likely to edge out a tight victory as they’ll be relying on home-ice advantage and potentially bouncing back after a terrible offensive performance against Nashville.
BettorInsiders Final Prediction: Bruins 3, Stars 2
Best Bet: Under 5.5 goals