The Calgary Flames (32-25-6) travel to battle the Boston Bruins (39-12-12) Tuesday at the TD Garden at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Flames-Bruins sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Flames at Bruins: Projected starting goalies
David Rittich vs. Tuukka Rask
The All-Star Rittich is expected to start, putting his 23-15-5 record, 2.91 goals against average and .908 save percentage on the line. He’ll have a new defenseman in front of him, as the Flames bolstered their rearguard at the deadline by grabbing Erik Gustafsson from the Chicago Blackhawks. That will help the likes of Rittich, and the Flames as a whole. They also added sandpaper in the form of Derek Forbort from the Los Angeles Kings.
Rask is expected to go for the B’s, and while his overall numbers of 23-6-6, 2.17 GAA and .928 SV% are phenomenal, his splits at home are even better. He is 14-0-6 with a 1.97 GAA and .933 SV%, with all three of his season’s shutouts coming on home ice. Since the All-Star break he is 6-2-0 with a 1.81 GAA, as he is showing no signs of slowing down.
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Flames at Bruins: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Bruins 4, Flames 2
Moneyline (ML)
The Bruins (-223) are just too expensive on the moneyline, even if Rask hasn’t suffered a loss in regulation at home this season. To get ahead in gambling, particularly on moneylines, you cannot risk more than twice as much as your return. Eventually you’re going to get burned. AVOID.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Bruins to win returns a profit of $4.48, while a $10 wager on the Flames (+180) results in a profit of $18.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The better play is on the BRUINS (-1.5, +125) at plus-money. Still, I’d make this a small-unit wager since the Flames (+1.5, -154) are 5-1 in the past six games on the road and 8-2 in the past 10 as an underdog. While the Flames might look attractive when you see those trends, know they’re 1-5 in the past six meetings with the B’s, and 2-7 in the past nine trips to Beantown.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Under (-200) is priced too high. I’m staying away. The trends are split, per side, with the Over in favor of the Flames, and the Under a slam-dunk on the B’s. In fact, the Over is 6-0-1 in Calgary’s past seven on the road, and 5-1 in the past six against winning sides. The Under is 5-1 in the past six at home for the B’s, 11-4 in the past 15 as a favorite and 5-2 in the past seven overall. Your best bet is to AVOID.
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