NHL: Bruins vs Predators Betting Preview
B’s Holding off Panthers in Atlantic; Preds Four Points Behind Jets in Central
The Boston Bruins (43-17-15-101 points) are on top of the Atlantic Division by two points but have a difficult road ahead starting tonight against the Nashville Predators (43-27-4, 90 points) at Bridgestone Arena. Boston has the league’s fifth most difficult schedule remaining with Carolina twice and the Florida Panthers coming up.
Oddsmakers have opened this number with Boston as the -120 road favorite with a total of 5.5 (over -120). Puck drop is scheduled for 8:05 ET / 5:05 PT and can be seen on Bally Sports South and NESN. Let’s get into our Bruins vs Predators betting preview starting with the black and gold.
Bruins vs Predators 
Location: Bridgestone Arena
Day/Time:
Streaming: Bally Sports South & NESN
Bruins Still Trying to Shake Panthers Residue
The Boston Bruins won a massive battle against the Florida Panthers a couple of NHL games ago and since have played well enough to say the Panthers are in the background but their performance says otherwise. They lost to the Tampa Lightning the night after and then needed a shootout to take out the Washington Capitals who are not a contender to make noise in the hockey playoffs.
We’ve always been under the belief that teams don’t get their footing after a big win for a few games. It looks as if the oddsmakers agree after making Boston a road favorite. We’re not saying that Jim Montgomery needs to implement wind sprints back into his practice tonight should be the game where Boston should shake the Panthers’ win and give us a better offensive effort than three regulation goals in their last six periods.
The Bruins have not produced a winning season for bettors, losing 4.50 units despite a 43-32 record for gamblers. It’s quite the drop-off from last season when Montgomery’s team was 16.98 units into the black, but this might be exactly where the B’s need to be to focus on winning in the postseason rather than being another President’s Trophy failure. This will be the return match-up after Boston tranquilized Nashville, 3-2, back in the first week of the season. Boston hopes to improve on a 6-1-1 record against the Predators in their last 8 games while improving their current 10-1 Stanley Cup odds (7th choice).
Predators Could Clinch Playoff Spot This Week
With six of their eight games remaining against NHL teams out of the playoffs, the Nashville Predators should waltz into the postseason on a high note. Like Boston, it takes a while to shake off an 18-point streak after a loss to start a new chapter in the Nashville hockey season.
The Pred’s streak was stopped by the Arizona Coyotes (8-4), of all teams, and then as predictable as the wind lost to the Colorado Avalanche (7-4) to finish their short road two-game road trip. They come home to where they have an 8-game point streak that dates back to February 15th.
The Predators have an outside chance of clinching a playoff spot this week but with a magic number of eight, we predict that Nashville will have to wait until next week to clinch a spot and potentially the first wild-card position. The Preds have been a friend for bettors all season with 8.19 units won, third best in the NHL behind St. Louis (+13.09 units), and the New York Rangers (+1183 units). If Nashville finishes in the black, it will be the second straight season they’ve produced a profit and the third in four seasons.
Over the last two years, only the Vegas Golden Knights (+14.94 units) and Boston Bruins (+12.49 units) have been better for NHL handicappers. It should be noted that Nashville is 0-5 this season when an underdog of even to +110.
Oddsmakers Play Baiting Game
Bookmakers are laying a trap and we’re going to stay clear. Some in the industry suggested that they thought the opening number would come out Nashville -120 but instead, Boston is favored. When the Bruins opponent has less than three days off between games, Boston is 38-26 this season adding to an incredible record when facing teams in this spot.
Over the last three seasons, Boston is 133-64 (.675) when facing teams with less than three days rest. This is not a new trend either. Since 2010 Boston is 546-360 (.603) using this filter including a 9-7 record against the Nashville Predators.
This trend is strong on the road where Boston is 58-34 (.630) +16.49 units since the 21-22 season. We have Boston as the stronger team in our NHL power rankings where the B’s are 7th and Nashville is 14th. We’re all over Boston and the short price in this one. That does it for our Bruins vs Predators betting preview, we wish you all the best with your NHL picks and parlays tonight.
Check out all the updated NHL odds to win Stanley Cup and more right here at Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
