New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Thursday’s New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins NHL odds and lines, with hockey picks, tips and predictions.

The New Jersey Devils (5-3-2) visit the Boston Bruins (10-2-2) Thursday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. Below we analyze the Devils-Bruins NHL odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Devils at Bruins: Odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:30 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Devils +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Bruins -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Devils +1.5 (-150) | Bruins -1.5 (+125)
  • Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Devils at Bruins: Projected starting goalies

Mackenzie Blackwood (3-0-1, 1.92 GAA, .948 SV%) vs. Tuukka Rask (6-2-1, 2.51 GAA, .906 SV%)

Blackwood returned to the crease Tuesday for the first time in nearly a month due to COVID-19. He picked up right where he left off, stopping 37 of the 39 shots he faced in a 5-2 win at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers. He’ll get a much bigger test on the road against the B’s. It will be his third appearance against Boston, and he handled himself well in both previous outings. He allowed two goals on 37 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss Jan. 14, and he stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory Jan. 16.

Rask has faced the Devils once this season, stopping 20 of 22 shots in the 3-2 shootout win opposite Blackwood Jan. 14 in Newark, N.J. Rask saw his three-game win streak snapped last time out at N.Y. Islanders, yielding four goals on 42 shots.

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Devils at Bruins: Odds, lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Bruins 3, Devils 2

Money line (ML)

The Bruins (-225) will cost you more than two times your potential return. While that looks like a good play on paper for the red-hot B’s, the Devils (+190) played them tough in each of the two previous outings. It’s risky business, so look to the spread instead. PASS.

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Against the spread (ATS)

The DEVILS +1.5 (-150) are actually a pretty decent play on the puck like. Rarely, if ever, do I suggest the underdog, but New Jersey has played two one-goal games against the B’s so far. And each of Boston’s past four victories have been by just one goal, so consider betting New Jersey lightly plus a goal-and-a-half.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-110) is the way to be in this outing. Both of the previous outings, with Blackwood in the crease, hit the Under. The teams combined for just eight total goals in the first two games in this series. Look for Rask and Blackwood to toss up plenty of donuts in this one, too.

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