The New Jersey Devils (12-16-4) begin a two-game road set against the Boston Bruins (17-8-5) Sunday at TD Garden. Puck drop will be shortly after 5:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Devils-Bruins odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Bruins and Devils are fourth and seventh, respectively, in the East Division but New Jersey leads the head-to-head season series 3-1 with the most recent victory being by a 1-0 score March 7 at TD Garden.
The Devils were just handed back-to-back losses by the Washington Capitals Thursday and Friday; they were outscored 8-3 in D.C. The Bruins have won three of their last four games, including a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres Saturday.
Devils at Bruins: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Devils +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Bruins -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Devils +1.5 (-155) | Bruins -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Devils at Bruins: Projected starting goalies
Mackenzie Blackwood (8-9-1, .904 SV%, 2.98 GAA) vs. Jaroslav Halak (7-4-3, .915 SV%, 2.25 GAA)
Blackwood allowed 4 goals on 22 shots in Thursday’s loss to the Capitals. It snapped a personal three-game win streak in which he posted a .942 SV%. He has faced Boston three times this season and is 2-0-1 with just 5 goals allowed on 92 shots.
Halak last played Thursday and allowed 4 goals on 21 shots in an overtime loss to the New York Islanders. He has played an increased role this month with Tuukka Rask sidelined and has posted a .926 save percentage and 2.08 goals against average over seven games while going 3-2-2.
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Devils at Bruins: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Devils 2, Bruins 1
Money line (ML)
The DEVILS (+170) are worth a shot at plus-money with the lead in the season series and with the Bruins on the second half of a back-to-back.
Blackwood will shake off the Thursday loss and return to the form of his recent win streak against a Bruins squad he has held at bay this season. Fatigue is a growing concern for Halak, who has played as many games this month as he did in January and February combined.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The DEVILS +1.5 (-155) offer a much better return for the outright upset, but they also carry enough value with the goal of insurance in the event of a loss.
Four of their last seven losses were played within a single-goal margin, and their one loss against Boston this season went to a shootout.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 5.5 (-105) is the top play in this game.
Both starting goalies have played well in the season series and all four head-to-head games thus far played to a total of 5 or fewer goals.
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