The Boston Bruins are the best team in hockey and will potentially break records while cruising to the playoffs as the overwhelming favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The Nashville Predators struggle to score and are in the midst of the battle for the Wild Card spots in the Western Conference and will be in that fight until the end of the season.
We’ll review the stats, trends, and odds to make our Nashville Predators predictions to find the Bruins vs Predators’ best bets for Thursday’s online sports betting ticket.
Boston Bruins vs. Nashville Predators Matchup Information
Boston Bruins vs Nashville Predators
Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennesse
Date and Time: Thursday, February 16th, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
How to Watch: NHLPP | ESPN+ | Bally Sports South
Bruins vs. Predators Odds
Part of finding the Bruins vs Predators best bets is reviewing the NHL odds and the teams’ betting records before making any picks.
Recent Scores for Last Game
This is the first of games on the NHL schedule between Boston and Nashville in 2022-23.
Minnesota won both NHL games on the 2021-2022 schedule. They are averaging 3.5 goals per game, while Boston averaged 2.0 goals per game.
Both NHL teams are coming into Thursday’s matchup on entirely different trajectories.
Boston won their last game 3-2 in overtime over the Dallas Stars on February 14th. Meanwhile, Nashville lost their last game 4-2 to the Arizona Coyotes on February 18th.
Boston Bruins vs. Nashville Predators Analysis
Do we really need to check the Boston Bruins standings?
The Bruins have been the best team in hockey this season and have sat atop the Atlantic Division and the NHL standings the entire team. The 2022-23 Bruins have 40 wins in 53 games and are rapidly approaching the league record for most wins in a season of 62. This record is shared with the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Bruins have won two of the last three games and have a 6-4 record in the last ten games. Boston has a 2-7-1 over/under record in the last ten games.
The Bruins are 41-10 in the last 51 games against teams with losing records. Meanwhile, Boston is 4-1 in the previous five meetings with the Predators. However, the Bruins are 3-8 in the last 11 games in Nashville.
The Bruins are ranked third in the NHL, averaging 3.66 goals per game, while having the seventh-ranked powerplay, converting at 24.2%.
Defensively, the Bruins are outstanding and lead the league. Boston is ranked first and giving up 2.11 goals per game while having the best penalty-killing unit in the league, operating at 85.9%.
David Pastrnak leads the Bruins in NHL player stats with 74 points (39 goals, 35 assists). Pavel Zacha has five points in the Bruins’ last five games.
It really doesn’t matter which goalie starts for Boston, as both goalies have things on lockdown. We expect the current front-runner for the 2023 Vezina Trophy, Linus Ullmark, to get the start for Boston on Thursday night. Ullmark has a 27-4-1 record, a 1.90 GAA, and a .937 SV%.
Analyzing the Nashville Predators’ playoff chances and their path to the postseason
We will need to search the NHL standings to find the Nashville Predators. The Predators are currently ranked fifth in the Central Division with a 25-20-6 record. Nashville is currently out of a playoff spot and will be fighting as a long shot to make the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference Wild Card picture.
Nashville has lost two of the last three games but has a 6-4 record over the previous ten. The Preds have a 4-4-2 over/under record in the last ten games.
Nashville has faced a total goals line of 5.5 twice in the previous ten games, with both games hitting the under. The Predators are 5-2 in their last seven home games but are 2-9 in the last 11 games against the Atlantic Division.
Nashville is ranked 26th in scoring, averaging 2.75 goals per game, while having the 29th-ranked powerplay, converting at 16.5%.
Defensively, the Preds are ranked 14th, giving up 2.94 goals per game. Also, they have the 16th-ranked penalty kill, operating at 80.2%. Defenseman Roman Josi leads the Predators in scoring with 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists).
We expect Juuse Saros to get the start for Nashville. Saros has a 20-14-5 record, a 2.73 GAA, and a .919 SV%.
Flip Forsberg is Nashville’s leading goal scorer and is listed as day-to-day for the Predators on the NHL injury report and is the only player on either injury report except back in the lineup anytime soon.
Boston Bruins
Moneyline: The Boston Bruins are the best hockey team and the expected moneyline favorite, with odds between -178 and -190. The Bruins have a 40-13 straight-up record.
Spread: As the moneyline favorite, the Bruins are listed at +1.5 on the puck line spread. Their odds go from +138 to +145. Boston has a 32-21 ats record.
Over/Under: The total goals line is set to 5.5, which is low for most NHL games but common in Bruins games. The total goals line is listed at 5.5 in six of Boston’s last ten games. The over is listed between -115 and -120, while the under is listed between +100 and -105. Boston has a 22-27-4 record.
Nashville Predators
Moneyline: Nashville is the moneyline underdog, with odds from +150 to +160. The Predators have a 25-26 straight-up record.
Spread: The Predators are listed at -1.5 on the puck line spread, with odds between -165 and -175 odds. The Preds have a 25-26 ats record.
Over/Under: While we have given the odds for the over/under in the Bruins’ odds section, you should know that the Nashville Predators have a 23-26-2 over/under record.
Boston Bruins vs. Nashville Predators Betting Pick and Prediction
The first of our Bruins vs Predators best bets is to take the best team in hockey to continue being the best team in hockey. We’re taking the Boston Bruins on the moneyline and, frankly, they should be larger favorites than they are.
The Bruins are the best team in hockey. Also, they are the favorites, scoring 18-4 in the last 22 head-to-head matchups between these NHL teams.
The second of our Bruins vs Predators best bets is to take the under. The Boston Bruins have the most ridiculous goals-against average in the league and are listed a full goal below the typical over/under total goals number of 6.5 regularly.
In Boston’s six games facing a spread of 5.5, the under is 6-0. Ignore the betting trend of the overgoing 4-1 in the last five matchups and take Boston’s excellent goaltending to make this game hit the under as one of your NHL picks.
Our final pick is to take the Bruins to cover the -1.5 goal spread. Nashville’s offense won’t keep up with Boston’s offense and isn’t going to breakthrough with a big game against goaltending this good. We’re taking Boston -1.5
- NHL Picks: Boston Bruins ML, Boston -1.5, Under.
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