The Boston Bruins (38-11-12) visit the Calgary Flames (31-24-6) for a Friday night (9 p.m. ET) tussle on the ice at the Saddledome. We analyze the Bruins-Flames odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Bruins at Flames: Projected starting goalies
Tuukka Rask vs. David Rittich
Rask is the projected starter for what would be his sixth effort in Boston’s last seven games. The veteran netminder owns a 2.04 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage — the latter on pace for a career-best mark. Rask has put up monster numbers in January and February (8-1-1 record, .954 SV). He hasn’t allowed so much as three goals in a game since Dec. 23. Boston’s last game was Wednesday at Edmonton (a 2-1 overtime win); Rask stopped 28-of-29 shots.
Rittich owns a 2.93 GAA and .908 in 43 games this season. His numbers at home have been a couple clicks worse than those figures, and that’s part of a multi-year trend. Rittich’s February has been a dismal one; the 27-year-old has logged a 4.15 GAA and .872 SV. He was pulled in his last start (Saturday versus Chicago) after allowing four goals on 15 shots in 26 minutes.
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Bruins at Flames: 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 Friday at 1 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Boston 4, Calgary 1
Moneyline (ML)
Boston (-154) has won four straight games and 10 of its last 11. Over that stretch, the goaltending has been superior and puck-possession numbers have been strong. The shot percentages — for and against — aren’t sustainable in the long run, and the Bruins overall are a tad too far out over their Pythagorean skis (their record is better than their goals and goals allowed would figure). But this is a top-shelf team with a good goalie going strong. Going against Boston would be unwise.
The straight-up price, however, doesn’t offer enough value and thus I’ll PASS ON THE MONEYLINE and look to the spread.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Bruins to win would return a profit of $6.49.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
During their 10-of-11 run, the Bruins have won six games by multiple goals. Boston is in a fight for home ice throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, and a letdown seems unlikely. A club that is 5-1 over its last six games in a different time zone facing a Calgary squad that’s gone 1-4-1 over its last six at home is worth a puck-line play if we can get more than +165 in return.
BOSTON -1.5 (+180) is a solid play.
Over/Under (O/U)
Calgary has played in six straight overs; Boston has played in five consecutive unders. The under is a slight lean here, but the Under 5.5 (+100) has the risk/reward factor well blanketed. PASS.
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