The Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils open their 2021 NHL regular season Thursday with a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at Prudential Center in Newark. Below, we analyze the Bruins-Devils NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Bruins at Devils: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Bruins -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Devils +150 (bet $100 to win $150)
- Against the spread/ATS: Bruins -1.5 (+155) | Devils +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 5.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Bruins at Devils: Projected starting goalies
Tuukka Rask (26-8-6, 2.12 GAA, .929 SV%) at Mackenzie Blackwood (22-14-8, 2.77 GAA, .915 SV%)
Rask had another fabulous season in 2019-20, splitting the duties with Jaroslav Halak. It’s a system that has worked really well for bench boss Bruce Cassidy. Rask’s 2.12 GAA was his lowest since he turned in a 2.04 GAA during the 2013-14 season. He has also won 26 or more games in seven consecutive NHL campaigns. Rask faced New Jersey twice last season, going 2-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA, .982 SV% and one shutout.
Blackwood was impressive in his first full season as the New Jersey backstop, and it’s uncertain where they would have been without him. He went 10-8-7 with a 2.76 GAA and .910 SV% with two shutouts in 25 appearances at home last season. He picked up one win with one loss in two outings against the B’s, allowing five goals on 28 shots in a loss at home Nov. 19, 2019.
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Bruins at Devils: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Bruins 3, Devils 1
Money line (ML)
The BRUINS (-175) are just about at my limit for a straight money line wager, as I tend to never go any higher than -175 or -180. They’re a good play at this price level in the opener, even though it’s a tad risky playing a road team at such a high price.
Against the spread (ATS)
The BRUINS -1.5 (+155) are a tempting play on the road, but Blackwood will certainly make them work for it. He is the best backstop the team has had since Martin Brodeur left, and he will win games that Cory Schneider and other goaltenders in recent years have let slip away.
Still, the B’s will do enough to scratch out a road win by at least 2 goals.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 5.5 (-105) is the play here, although long-term Boston’s defense is a bit worrisome. They lost Torey Krug to the St. Louis Blues, and Zdeno Chara to the Washington Capitals, so we’ll find out early if Charlie McAvoy can handle being the No. 1 guy. That’s the biggest concern betting the Under in this one, and we’ll likely find out early if it is going to be a good night.
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