Will the Road Team Win Again in Boston-Vegas Series?
The Bruins vs Vegas Betting Lines Favor The Visiting Bruins
A Challenging Road Trip Continues For the Boston Bruins
The road trip did not get off to a great start for the Boston Bruins with consecutive overtime or shootout losses to Colorado and Phoenix. It doesn’t get much easier with a game against defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas up next. The Bruins are listed as the favorite according to the Bruins vs Vegas betting lines.
This is just the second time this season that Vegas comes into a game as the underdog at home. The Golden Knights are priced at +115 to win the game compared to -135 odds for the visiting Bruins according to the NHL betting lines.
Vegas has fallen six points behind the Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division standings after losing seven of its last 10 games. Boston is in danger of dropping behind Florida in the Atlantic Division standings.
Forward Matthew Poitras and defenseman Brandon Carlo are questionable for the Bruins as is goalie Linus Ullmark as the Bruins will turn to Swayman. Defenseman Derek Forbort is out.
For Vegas, defensemen Ben Hutton, Shea Theodore, Zach Whitecloud, and Kaeden Korczak are out as is forward William Karlsson. Forward William Carrier and goalie Logan Thompson are questionable.
The Bruins and Golden Knights are among the teams trailing only Colorado in the odds of winning the Stanley Cup championship.
Bruins vs Golden Knights 
Records: Boston Bruins 24-8-8 vs Vegas Golden Knights 23-12-5
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Day/Time: Streaming: NESN, ESPN+
The Defense is No Longer Stingy For the Bruins
The Bruins are averaging 4.4 goals per game in the month of January and with the way that they typically limit the changes for the opposing team, that should be enough to pile up the wins.
However, Boston has six out of a possible 10 points in the first five games of January. Keep that in mind when looking at the Bruins vs Vegas betting lines.
Jeremy Swayman has a 4.85 goals-against average while reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark is much better with a 2.31 GAA and a save percentage of .920.
The total has gone over in six of Boston’s last seven games.
Golden Knights Are Struggling A Bit
Vegas bounced back after being outscored 7-1 in losses to Seattle and Florida with a win over the New York Islanders. However, the Golden Knights were shut out on the road against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. Vegas managed just 25 shots and was 0-for-4 on the power play while allowing Colorado to score twice with the man advantage.
Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy each scored twice and Vegas scored on its only power-play opportunity to get a spirit-lifting win against the Islanders after being shut out in the Winter Classic and then allowed three power-play goals to Florida in a rematch of the Stanley Cup final. That is something that could factor into the Bruins vs Vegas betting line.
The Las Vegas odds total has landed under in four of the last five games for the Golden Knights.
Last Meeting
A quick look at recent NHL team records shows that Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle had goals in the third period as the Bruins, the road favorite, topped Vegas 3-1 just six days after the Golden Knights won in Boston.
The Bruins won five games in a row but the teams have split the last four meetings.
The road team has won six of the last seven games between the Bruins and the Golden Knights.
Bruins vs Golden Knights Betting Preview
While Vegas has had its issues winning on the road, the Golden Knights are 14-4-2 on home ice. Boston has won 12 games both at home and on the road.
Vegas is 3-2-1 on the back end of back-to-back games. Three of those games were decided by shootouts.
Boston has covered 12 of its 22 road games with 12 of those games landing over the total.
When making NHL predictions, it should be noted that the total has landed under in seven of the last 10 games between the Bruins and the Golden Knights. The total has gone over in five of the last seven home games for Vegas as well as in four of the last six against Atlantic Division teams.
Boston is fifth on the power play and third in penalty killing. Vegas is in the middle of the pack on both the power play and penalty kill.
When it comes to the NHL scores and odds, keep in mind that Vegas has lost four of its last five matchups versus Eastern Conference teams.
The total has gone over in 10 of Boston’s last 15 games on the road. With a total set at six for this game and top goalies for both teams ailing, that should be getting plenty of action heading into a matchup with two of the top Stanley Cup contenders.
For NHL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
