Boston Bruins at Edmonton Oilers odds, picks and predictions
The Boston Bruins (33-12-11) and the Edmonton Oilers (33-18-1) meet Wednesday at Rogers Place. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bruins vs. Oilers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Bruins kick off a 4-game road trip through Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Boston posted a 4-3 win in a shootout against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, and 3 of their past 4 games have needed overtime or a shootout to determine a winner.
The B’s have re-discovered their offense after a brief power outage. Speaking of which, this is a rematch of the 1988 Stanley Cup Final, best known for a power failure in Game 4 at the old Boston Garden. Anyway, Boston has 8 goals in the past 2 games after tallying just 8 markers in a 5-game span from Feb. 6-15.
The Oilers doubled up the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 on Monday, covering the puck line as a road favorite (-270). The Oilers are 3-1-0 across the past 4 games, averaging a healthy 5.3 goals per game (GPG), while allowing 4.0 GPG. It’s no surprise the Over is 4-for-4 in that stretch.
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Bruins at Oilers odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update at 6:45 a.m. ET.
Bruins at Oilers projected goalies
Linus Ullmark (16-6-4, 2.72 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Stuart Skinner (25-12-1, 2.57 GAA, .906 SV%, 2 SO)
Ullmark is looking to bounce back after getting tattooed for 5 goals on 35 shots in a 5-4 OTL against the visiting Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. He is just 1-1-2 in his past 4 tries against the Western Conference. Ullmark is a solid 1-0-2 with a 2.23 GAA and .909 SV% with 1 SO in 3 starts and 1 brief relief appearance in February.
Skinner kicked aside 22 of the 25 shots he faced in a win over the Coyotes on Monday in Arizona. It was a much-needed win, as he is still just 2-3-0 with a 3.46 GAA and .880 SV% in 5 February starts. He has won his past 7 starts against Eastern Conference opponents since a 7-4 setback at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 14.
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Bruins at Oilers picks and predictions
Prediction
Oilers 5, Bruins 4
The OILERS (-145) are a strong play as a moderate favorite at home. Skinner has been a little shaky, but so has Ullmark at the other end. This game has the potential to have plenty of fire-wagon hockey, with the scoreboard operator being quite busy.
The Bruins +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return. That’s way too much if you’d like a little insurance. If you like Boston, just play it straight up.
PASS, and play the moneyline only.
The OVER 6 (-125) will cost you a little extra, but it’s worth it.
Boston has cashed the Over in the past 2 games, scoring 8 goals in the stretch. This is a B’s offense that isn’t nearly as prolific as last season, but 3.3 GPG is not terrible, and the power play hits at a 23.4% clip, good for 9th in the league. The B’s are solid at the defensive end, and in the crease, allowing just 2.6 GPG, while killing penalties at 81.4%.
Edmonton has posted 3.6 GPG, while the power play hits at a 26.8% clip, good for 4th in the NHL. And the penalty kill is just so-so at 79.4%, or 16th in the league. That’s a great recipe for Over results, too.
