Rangers vs Bruins Prediction, Odds & Picks for Saturday (Mar 4)

Is the hockey world witnessing a preview of the NHL’s Eastern Conference final as the Boston Bruins are playing host to the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon?

Based on the stockpiling of talent both teams did leading up to Friday’s NHL trade deadline, that just might be the case.

The Rangers added two future Hall of Famers in forwards Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. Between them, they own four Stanley Cup rings, Hart, Art Ross, and Conn Smythe Trophies, plus 11 seasons of 30+ goals.

Already the #1 team in the NHL standings, the Bruins weren’t resting on their laurels. Boston reached out to add irascible forward Tyler Bertuzzi, a 30-goal scorer last season, and two Stanley Cup winners in bottom-six forward Garnet Hathaway and defenseman Dmitry Orlov.

Rangers vs Bruins Odds

It’s the Bruins that oddsmakers are liking in this game. Boston is a -170 home favorite. The Bruins are 32-19 against the puckline this season, which is second in the NHL.

Puck drop is set for 1:00pm ET on Saturday, March 4 at the TD Garden. ABC has the broadcast in the USA. Canadians can catch the action on Sportsnet.

Odds as of March 3rd at Caesars Sportsbook. Claim the Caesars Sportsbook bonus code here.

In the NHL public betting splits, 95% of handle and 70% of bets are with the Bruins at -1.5 in the puckline. Moneyline bettors are also heavily backing Boston with 82% of handle and 80% of bets.

When it comes to the total of 5.5 goals, the handle (80%) and bets (77%)  are going with the over. The total has gone under in 11 of the last 15 Rangers vs Bruins game. Eight of the last 11 contests played at Boston between the two teams all finished under the total.

Boston is the +400 chalk in the Stanley Cup odds. The Rangers are the fourth betting choice in this market at +1000.

Rangers Aren’t Able In Kane Debut

With Kane in the lineup for the first time, the Rangers fell 5-3 to the red-hot Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Kane was held pointless and was one of six New York players to finish at -2 or worse. Kane does have 10 points over his last five games, seven of which are goals.

New York right-winger Tyler Motte and defenseman Ryan Lindgren are questionable due to upper-body injuries. Defenseman K’Andre Miller is serving a three-game NHL suspension for spitting at Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings.

Bruins On Record-Setting Pace

With Thursday’s 7-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Boston reached the 100-point plateau in the club’s 61st game of the season. That’s the fastest a team has reached the century mark in NHL history.

Goalie Linus Ullmark, the favorite in the Vezina Trophy odds, reached the 30-win plateau in his 37th game. Only Tiny Thompson (30 games in 1929-30) did so faster since the Bruins joined the NHL in 1925.

Rangers vs Bruins Recent Results

The Bruins are without left-wingers Nick Foligno and Taylor Hall, both on IR with lower-body injuries. Left-winger Brad Marchand (LBI) is listed as probable. Bertuzzi is expected to make his Boston debut.  Boston signed scoring leader David Pastrnak to an eight-year, $90-million contract extension.

Rangers vs Bruins Pick & Prediction

The Rangers have earned a point in 12 of their last 16 games (10-4-2) and 30 of their last 39 contests (25-9-5). But they are just 2-5 straight up in their last seven games and 1-2-1 in the last four road games.

On the other hand, Boston is 9-0 SU over the past nine games and 6-1 SU through the last seven home games. The Bruins are 12-5 SU in their last 17 games against the Rangers. They’ve won both meetings so far this season.

Pick: Boston Bruins Moneyline (-170).