Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights odds, picks and predictions

The Boston Bruins (24-8-8) make the 3rd stop on a 4-game road trip against the Vegas Golden Knights (23-13-5) Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bruins vs. Golden Knights odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

The Bruins suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes Tuesday. That was a night after a 4-3 loss in a shootout at the Colorado Avalanche to kick off the road trip. Despite the losses, Boston is still 5-1-2 across the past 8 outings.

The Golden Knights were blanked 3-0 at the Avalanche Wednesday, the 2nd shutout loss in the past 4 games for VGK. The Golden Knights have scored 2 or fewer goals in 5 of the past 7 outings, too, cashing the Under in 4 of the past 5 contests.

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Bruins at Golden Knights odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 5:53 p.m. ET.

Bruins at Golden Knights projected goalies

Jeremy Swayman (11-3-6, 2.50 GAA, .920 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Logan Thompson (12-8-3, 2.83 GAA, .902 SV%)

Swayman allowed 3 goals on 36 shots Monday in Colorado in his most recent start. He was also forced into action in overtime at Arizona Tuesday, as Linus Ullmark suffered an injury where Swayman allowed a goal on a single shot to take an unfair loss.

Thompson allowed 2 goals on 29 shots in a 5-2 home victory against the New York Islanders last time out, snapping a 2-loss streak to open the 2024 calendar year. He has allowed at least 3 goals in 4 of his past 6 starts.

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Bruins at Golden Knights picks and predictions

Prediction

Golden Knights 3, Bruins 2

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+105) are a solid play at home as short ‘dogs. Yes, Vegas has had a lot of trouble scoring goals, but it is 3-1 in the past 4 home games, including victories against the Islanders and Kings.

Plus, the Bruins aren’t exactly crushing it, posting just a single win in the past 4 games, with 3 one-goal losses during the span.

The Golden Knights +1.5 (-225) will cost more than 2 times your potential return if you’d like a little bit of insurance, and you can’t bring yourself to bet Vegas straight up.

That’s way too much risk for not enough reward. Plus, VGK is 1-3 in the past 4 games on the puck line as an underdog.

AVOID.

The UNDER 6 (+100) at plus-money might be the best play on the board.

VGK has had tremendous difficulty lighting the lamp lately, going for a total of 14 goals in the past 7 games, or 2.0 GPG. It’s no surprise the Under is 4-1 in the past 5 outings.

For the Bruins, they’re on a 4-0 run to the Over, while the total has gone high in 6 of the past 7 outings. Still, with the way the Golden Knights have struggled to score, Swayman should be able to keep them down.