The Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2-1) travel to meet the Boston Bruins (4-1-1) at TD Garden Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. Below, we analyze the Penguins-Bruins NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Penguins at Bruins: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:13 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Penguins +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Bruins -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Penguins +1.5 (-250) | Bruins -1.5 (+200)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Penguins at Bruins: Projected starting goalies
Tristan Jarry (2-2-1, 3.91 GAA, .868 SV%) at Jaroslav Halak (1-0-1, 1.44 GAA, .938 SV%)
Jarry is projected as the starter again. He allowed three goals on 36 shots in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Boston. G Casey DeSmith, a native of nearby New Hampshire, could be tasked with the start. DeSmith is 2-0-0 with a 2.76 GAA and .871 SV% in two starts and three appearances. Whichever goalie is in the crease, the Penguins might have to do without the services of one of their top defenders, as D Brian Dumoulin left the last game with an undisclosed injury.
Halak is confirmed to start for the B’s, as bench boss Bruce Cassidy sticks to his goaltender rotation. Halak will be looking to build upon his first win of the season as he made 16 saves in a 6-1 blowout against the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday. He has allowed just three goals on 48 shots in his two appearances.
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Penguins at Bruins: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bruins 3, Penguins 2
Money line (ML)
The BRUINS (-130) are the play as slight favorites on their home ice, as TD Garden has been a house of horrors over the years for the Penguins. The Pens are just 3-13 in their past 16 trips to Beantown, and just 8-18 across the past 26 overall against the B’s. The home side has cashed in 20 of the previous 26 head-to-head meetings with the favorite hitting in 22 of the past 29.
Against the spread (ATS)
While the Bruins -1.5 (+200) have dominated this series in recent years, a two-goal win is still a tall order. RW David Pastrnak (hip) will not play in this one, and the B’s have averaged just 2.25 goals per game in outings not against the Flyers. With Pasta sidelined, they’ll have a hard time generating offense.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 5.5 (+100). Halak has had it on lockdown in his two previous appearances, allowing a total of just three goals, and the Penguins matched a season-low two goals in the first end of the double dip. A total of five goals in this one is a good bet.
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