The Boston Bruins (46-18-15) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (37-30-12) Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bruins vs. Penguins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Bruins suffered a 4-1 loss at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, denying Boston valuable points. Boston remains just 1 point clear of the Florida Panthers for the lead in the Atlantic Division with a game in hand. The B’s head to the Steel City with a 22-8-9 road record, best in the NHL.
Boston has allowed just 12 goals in the past 6 outings, cashing the Under in each of those Games. The Over is 1-0-1 in 2 meeting with the Pens, while going 3-1-1 in the past 5 in the series.
The Penguins occupy the 2nd wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 86 points, 1 point ahead of the trio of the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh was a seller at the NHL trade deadline, sending free-agent-to-be Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. The trade has galvanized the Pens, as they’re 7-0-2 in the past 9 Games to get right into the thick of the playoff chase.
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Bruins at Penguins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:25 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bruins -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Penguins +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Bruins -1.5 (+180) | Penguins +1.5 (-225)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Bruins at Penguins projected goalies
Linus Ullmark (21-9-7, 2.55 GAA, .917 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Alex Nedeljkovic (17-6-7, 2.89 GAA, .904 SV%, 1 SO)
Ullmark allowed just 2 goals on 30 shots in a key 3-2 OTW against the visiting Florida Panthers last Saturday. He is 2-0-0 with a 0.99 GAA and .967 SV% in 2 starts in April. Ullmark allowed just a single goal on 39 shots in a 5-1 win against the Penguins March 9 at TD Garden.
Nedeljkovic coughed up 5 goals on 30 shots in a wild 6-5 OTW against the Detroit Red Wings, a team the Pens are competing with for a wild-card spot. Ned has won 5 of his 6 starts in the month of April, while allowing 3 or fewer goals in 4 of his past 9 outings.
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Bruins at Penguins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 3, Penguins 2
Moneyline
The BRUINS (-135) are looking to secure the Atlantic Division, and they need a victory on the road. The Penguins (+115) won’t make it easy, as they’re smack dab in the middle of a 4-way battle for 2 wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.
However, talent will take over, and the B’s should do enough to get the job done on the road.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Penguins +1.5 (-225) will cost more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s way too risky if you require a little bit of insurance, and you just cannot take Pittsburgh straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 6 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The total has gone low in half of the past 4 games for the Pens, although the Over has a slight 6-5 advantage in the past 11 outings.
For the Bruins, the Under has cashed in 6 in a row, while holding a slight 5-4-1 advantage in the past 10 meetings in the series.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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