The Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins are just three months removed from their victory parade and now it’s time to defend their title as they face off against the new-look Philadelphia Flyers in Sportsbook night NHL betting action on Thursday.
It will be a noisy building in Boston with the banner raising, and the emotion will charge up the champions. The Bruins are listed as a -145 moneyline favorite at Sportsbook, while the OVER/UNDER is sitting at 5.5 goals.
This might be a case of wanting to dampen the spirits early and set a tone for a new Flyers (+125) team, as they try to avenge a four-game playoff sweep at the hands of the Bruins last season.
Boston has been successful against the Flyers - going 6-3 head-to-head at home in the last nine games - and that should make them the favorites on the NHL betting lines.
There's also an Original Six NHL betting matchup on Sportsbook night with the Toronto Maple Leafs playing host to bitter rivals Montreal. Sportsbook has the Maple Leafs as -125 favorites, and the OVER/UNDER is set at 5.5 goals.
Stanley Cup runners-up Vancouver are anxious to show they are ready to move on from last season and build a winning team again. Sportsbook has the Canucks as a -155 favorite against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is still missing Sidney Crosby.
The Canucks have a strong record against the Penguins and will be the popular choice on the NHL betting lines in this contest.
Tampa Bay pushed the champions to a seventh game in the playoffs last year and they open their NHL season when they travel to meet the Carolina Hurricanes in NHL betting action on Friday night.
The Lightning are listed at Sportsbook as a slight -115 road favorite against the Hurricanes (+105), while the Sportsbook OVER/UNDER is sitting at 5.5 goals.
