Lightning vs. Bruins Pick
Are the Tampa Bay Lightning the right bet tonight as they battle the host Boston Bruins in a matchup between two of the NHL’s best teams? The puck drops at 7PM ET.
1 Tampa Bay Lightning at 2 Boston Bruins, 7PM ET
CURRENT ODDS
According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Bruins are a -140 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Lightning are a +120 underdog, while the total sits at 6 goals.
Bet NHL Action For Thursday, March 29, 2018
LINE MOVEMENT
Boston opened as a -130 favorite before the line increased, while the total has remained at 6 goals. The Bruins can be bet anywhere from -123 to -140 at various sportsbooks, while Tampa Bay is between a +110 and +130 underdog.
PUBLIC BETTING
As of Thursday afternoon, 68 percent of public bets are on the Bruins. Online wager info also says that an even 50 percent of bets are on the over and the under.
INJURY TO WATCH
Lightning center Steven Stamkos (lower body) is probable to play tonight, while three players – defenseman Victor Hedman (undisclosed), defenseman Jake Dotchin (illness) and left winger Adam Erne (lower body) – are all questionable. Right winger Ryan Callahan (upper body) is out indefinitely. For the Bruins, five players – defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), right winger David Backes (leg), defenseman Zdeno Chara (upper bodY), left winger Jake DeBrusk (upper body) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (knee) – are all questionable. Left winger Rick Nash (upper body) is out indefinitely.
BETTING STRATEGY
The Bruins have won both meetings this season, prevailing 3-2 on their home ice in November and 3-0 at Tampa Bay earlier this month. The Lightning have dropped two in a row, including a stunning 4-1 home defeat as huge favorites versus the Coyotes. Arizona is also coming off a loss as it fell 5-4 in a shootout at the Jets. I’ll take the team at plus money, with an extra day of rest and with the extra motivation after dropping the first two games of the season series while also losers of two straight overall. That’s Tampa Bay.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING +120