The Edmonton Oilers (32-21-6) host the Boston Bruins (37-11-12) Wednesday at Rogers Place for an 8:30 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Bruins-Oilers sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Bruins at Oilers: Projected starting goalies
Tuukka Rask vs. Mike Smith
Rask has gone 4-1-0 across his last five outings with a total of just six goals allowed. He is 22-5-6 on the season with a .931 save percentage and 2.08 goals against average.
Smith is also 4-1-0 across his last five games but with a total of 13 goals allowed. He is 16-10-4 with a .904 SV% and 2.93 GAA through 30 starts and two relief appearances.
Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.
Bruins at Oilers: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Oilers 3, Bruins 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Bruins (-189) enter Wednesday on a three-game winning streak, having last beaten the New York Rangers 3-1 Sunday. The OILERS (+155) have won two straight on the road and return to home ice having taken over the top spot in the Pacific Division, even without C Connor McDavid (quad). Edmonton is 15-9-4 at Rogers Place, while Boston is 16-9-3 on the road.
The Bruins are the better overall team with a plus-53 goal differential to the Oilers’ plus-7, but the value on the home side is too great to pass up. The Oilers earned a 4-1 victory in Boston Jan. 4 with Smith stopping 35 of 36 shots. Back the home side.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Oilers to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $15.50.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Grab some extra insurance on the hosts and back the OILERS (+1.5, -154) to either lose by one goal or win outright. The Bruins are 29-31 against the spread overall and 14-14 on the road, while the Oilers are 32-27 ATS overall but just 10-18 at home.
The poor ATS record for the Oilers at home is a result of them generally being favored. Liking them to win outright as home underdogs, their straight-up home record is more meaningful in this case. They’ve lost by 2 or more goals in just one of their last eight home games.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 5.5 (+110). Both goalies have been in great form entering Wednesday and both teams have had two full days of rest. The Bruins have hit the Over just twice in their last eight games. The Oilers are 5-4-1 against the O/U across the same span.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 239-228
Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2059]