The Boston Bruins (28-9-12) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (30-13-5) Sunday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena for a 12:30 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Bruins-Penguins sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Bruins at Penguins: Projected starting goalies
Jaroslav Halak vs. Matt Murray
Halak is coming off a win over these Penguins Thursday in which he stopped 29 of 30 shots at home. He is 11-5-6 for the season with a .921 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average.
Murray has won four straight games acting as the Penguins’ No. 2 netminder behind the red-hot Tristan Jarry. He is 14-6-4 for the season with a .899 SV% and 2.84 GAA.
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Bruins at Penguins: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 3 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Bruins 4, Penguins 3
Moneyline (ML)
The Penguins (-129) followed up the 4-1 loss to the Bruins with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings Friday. They’re 17-5-3 at home for the season, 7-2-1 across their last 10 games overall and in second place in the Metropolitan Division. The BRUINS (+105) are worth a play at plus-money following Thursday’s convincing win. They’re 12-7-3 on the road this season and atop the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins also claimed a 6-4 home win over the Pens in the season’s first head-to-head meeting Nov. 4. Back the better-rested Boston side as the Pens wrap up a set of three games in four days.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
I’ll AVOID the spread with the Bruins (+1.5, -250) laying too much chalk. The Bruins are 22-27 against the spread overall, but an adequate 11-11 on the road, while the Pens are 24-24 overall and just 11-14 ATS at home. I like the Bruins to win by a single goal, but there’s no value here or in the alternate line of Penguins +1.5 (-358).
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Bruins to either lose by 1 goal or win outright returns a profit of just $4.
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the OVER 5.5 (-134). The tired Penguins were already short-handed on defense and the busy schedule will further weaken their defensive play. Halak, filling in for the injured Tuukka Rask, is likely to make four consecutive starts for the first time all season, and could show some fatigue, as well.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 175-159
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