The Pittsburgh Penguins have stumbled lately and it doesn’t get any easier vs the Boston Bruins with the Pens Sportsbook as +116 underdogs in Beantown. The Pens have been a horrible bet in Boston and are 1-8 SU in their last nine games at TD Garden.
- The total has gone OVER in seven of the Bruins’ last 10 games.
- The Penguins are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games after consecutive losses.
- Evgeni Malkin is second in the NHL with 76 points.
Pittsburgh has dropped back-to-back games for the first time since the end of December and this will be a huge test to see if the Penguins are able to steal a game from an Eastern Conference rival. The Pens were a scoring machine in February, averaging a whopping 4.33 goals per game, but have only managed to get to sixth in the Eastern Conference. One factor that doesn’t bode well for Pittsburgh is the absence of goaltender Matt Murray. Backup Casey DeSmith will start while Murray is on the shelf and is 3-4 SU in seven starts this season.
Boston has injury troubles of its own as forward Patrice Bergeron is out for the foreseeable future with a fractured foot. However, the Bruins have been the better team, having won 13 of the last 18 games in this matchup with their home performance vs the Pens already noted. It’s also worth mentioning that the Bruins have won eight straight games when playing on one day’s rest.
The total opened at 6 and an OVER should be heavily considered by bettors. The OVER has hit in the last seven games in this matchup with the average combined score at 7.4 goals per game.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
NHL hockey oddsmakers at Sportsbook had the Boston Bruins as -128 moneyline favorites in this betting matchup. Those OVER/UNDER betting saw the line open at 6 at Sportsbook.
Handicapping models based on recent betting stats and prediction formulas pick a 3.9-1.7 win for the Penguins. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Boston Bruins Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to spoil the party on Thursday; they are 36-24-4 this season, while the Bruins are 38-15-8. Pittsburgh is 34-28-2 on the totals; Boston is 28-32-1. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Boston vs Pittsburgh injuries news.
The Penguins-Bruins odds would favor the Penguins if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Boston is rated No. 5 in the current OddsShark poll, while Pittsburgh is at No. 2.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Boston Bruins' No. 8-ranked offense (3.23 goals per game) against a Pittsburgh Penguins defense that ranks No. 18 at 2.97 goals per game allowed. The Bruins power play has clicked at a 19.58% rate while the Penguins have a 82.38% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In their last action, Pittsburgh was a 3-2 loser at home against the Devils. Bettors on New Jersey at +171 on the moneyline collected their winnings from that game, while the total score (5) sent UNDER bettors home happy as well.
The Bruins were a 4-3 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Hurricanes. That made Sportsbooks of bettors who got Boston at -183 on the moneyline, while the total score (7) was good news for OVER bettors.
- Pittsburgh is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
- Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 5 games
- Pittsburgh is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Boston is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
- Boston is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games
- Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Pittsburgh home to New York, Saturday, March 3
Boston home to Montreal, Saturday, March 3
