The Boston Bruins are the best team in the NHL and are riding a three-game winning streak. The New York Rangers will be fighting for a playoff spot in the very difficult Metropolitan Division for the rest of the season. The Bruins won the first game 5-2 on November 3rd, 2022. They are looking to take the season series with the Rangers tonight but are playing on back-to-back nights.
We’ll review the stats, trends, and odds before making our Bruins vs Rangers picks for Thursday’s online sports betting ticket.
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Odds
Before we make our Bruins vs Rangers picks, we need to review the NHL odds.
When looking at the Boston Bruins odds this season, you have likely found Boston the favorite night after night as they sit atop the NHL standings.
However, on the NHL schedule tonight, the Bruins and New York Rangers are listed at very similar odds.
The Bruins have moneyline odds ranging from +104 to -110, while the Rangers are listed between -108 and -125. These lines suggest a lot of money being placed by bettors on New York Rangers picks. It’s important to consider that the Bruins are playing on back-to-back nights, yet the public money is on the Bruins to win.
Boston has a 35-9 straight-up moneyline record, while the Rangers have a 25-20 straight-up record.
With the moneyline odds being very close on most online sportsbooks, you can find the Bruins at +1.5 or -1.5 on the puck line spread, depending on your sportsbook of choice. For the most part, the Bruins are listed at +1.5 on the puck line spread.
Using a puck line spread of +1.5, the Bruins have odds between -250 and -300. The Rangers are listed at -1.5 with odds between +198 and +210. Boston has a 28-16 record against the spread (ats), while New York has a 23-22 ats record.
The total goals line is set fairly low compared to most NHL games, set at 5.5 total goals. The over has odds between -115 and -125, while the under is between +100 and -105. The Rangers have a 19-25-1 over/under record, while the Bruins have a 20-21-3 over/under record.
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Information
Boston Bruins (35-5-4) vs. New York Rangers (25-13-7)
Date: Thursday, 19th January. 7:00 p.m. ET.
Location of the game: Madison Square Garden. New York, NY.
How to watch: NHLPP | ESPN+ | Regional Broadcast Partners.
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Betting Preview
Bruins Stats
The Boston Bruins enter Thursday’s matchup as the best team in the NHL, sitting atop the NHL standings with an incredible 35-5-4 record.
The Bruins have won three games in a row and four last five. In the last five games, Boston has hit the over in two games, with one game ending with six total goals and a push, while four games ended with at least a 1.5-goal spread.
Boston is 5-0 in the last five road games, while the under is 3-0-1 in the last four games against the Metropolitan Division. The Bruins are 6-2 in the last eight games in New York and 11-5 in the last 16 head-to-head matchups.
Statistically, Boston is at an elite level compared to the rest of the NHL teams. The Bruins’ offense is now ranked first in the NHL. They are averaging 3.8 goals per game, with the third-ranked powerplay converting at 27.8%.
Defensively, Boston is ranked first overall, giving up 2.1 goals per game, while the Bruins have the number-one ranked penalty kill in the NHL, operating at 86.7%
David Pastrnak is having a season, to say the least. Pastrnak leads the Bruins in NHL player stats with 63 points (35 goals, 28 assists). If there is a player on the Bruins you should target for prop bets, Pastrnak will likely get a point or two tonight.
Rangers Stats
The New York Rangers enter Thursday’s matchup ranked third in the Metropolitan Division with a 25-13-7 record, having won two of the last three games and three of the last five.
In the last five games, the Rangers have hit the over twice, with both games going to overtime, while four of the five games ended in a one-goal spread.
The under is 5-2 in the last seven matchups in New York and 10-4 in the last 14 meetings. The Rangers are 7-2 in the last nine home games and 5-1 in the last six games against teams with a .600% winning percentage or higher.
New York is ranked 16th in the NHL, averaging 3.2 goals per game, while the Rangers’ powerplay is ranked 16th as well, converting at 22.1%.
Defensively, the Rangers are a statistically better squad, ranked fourth overall, giving up 2.6 goals per game. New York’s penalty kill is closer to the league average, ranked 13th and operating at 80.5%.
Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in scoring with 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists), Mika Zibanejad leads the team in goals with 20, while defenseman Adam Fox leads New Yor with 36 assists.
Each team has one notable player on the NHL injury report: the Bruins have Jake DeBrusk listed as out. For the Rangers, they have Chris Krieder listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game.
Projected Starters
Starting goaltending always factors into our NHL picks. Reviewing the probable starters, it looks like we will be getting a matchup between the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner and the current favorite for the 2022-23 Vezina Trophy.
Linus Ullmark is the probable starter for the Bruins, with a 24-2-1 record, a 1.89 GAA, and a .937SV%. However, with Ullmark playing last night, there is a chance that Jeremy Swayman (10-3-3, 2.35 GAA, .912 SV%) will get the start for the Bruins.
The Rangers are likely to counter with the 2021-22 Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin, who has a 20-7-6 record, a 2.43 GAA, and a .918 SV%.
Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Betting Preview
Now that we have reviewed the important betting information, we need to make our Bruins vs Rangers picks.
First, you should know that the favorite, the Boston Bruins, is 11-5 in the last 16 head-to-head meetings.
We’re trying to understand why the Boston Bruins are at even odds with the Rangers or are listed as the underdog in some online sportsbooks. The Bruins should be the favorite when the puck drops and are our pick on the moneyline.
We’ll gladly take the Bruins – the best team in hockey – to win on the moneyline with odds between +104 and -110.
Since we’re taking the Bruins to win on the moneyline and they are listed at +1.5 on the puck line spread, we’re parlaying our Bruins on the moneyline, with the Bruins to cover the +1.5 goal spread.
The final of our Bruins vs Rangers picks the most difficult to make. The Bruins are a scoring machine but are arguably facing the best goalie in the NHL. Although the total goals line is set relatively low (5.5 goals), we’ll take the under. We’re thinking a Boston 3 – New York 2 final score is likely, regardless of who is in the net.
NHL Picks: Boston Bruins ML, Bruins +1.5, Under
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