Boston Bruins vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction, NHL Odds
Lindy Ruff’s debut as the new Devils bench boss wasn’t enough to propel New Jersey to a win in their first game since March.
After the Bruins pulled out a 3-2 shootout win on Thursday, Boston and New Jersey will finish their back-to-back on Saturday with the Bruins opening as -179 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Bruins vs. Devils Betting Analysis
These teams met three times, last season, with the eventual President’s Trophy winning Bruins, taking the first two games, before New Jersey, who missed the playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, picked up a 3-2 shootout win. The shootout went to the seventh round with Jack Hughes and Damon Severson scoring for the Devils.
After Thursday’s win, Boston has now won eight of their last 10 games against the Devils, including five of their last six in New Jersey.
Boston has hit the over in just five of their last 19 games and two of their last 11 games on the road.
New Jersey hasn’t been any better than the Bruins on the over. The Devils have only hit the over three times in their last 11 games and twice in their last six games against Boston.
Boston Bruins
There was a lot of talk about Tuukka Rask leaving the NHL bubble early, but he quieted the doubters with a solid performance in the Bruins’ season opening win. Rask stopped two breakaway chances in the final minute of overtime and turned aside all three players he faced in the shootout, finishing with 20 saves in the win. Brad Marchand and Nick Ritchie buried power play goals, before Marchand scored the shootout winner, finishing with a goal and an assist.
New Jersey Devils
Finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, it was New Jersey’s first game in 310 days. The Devils fought back after trailing 1-0 heading into the third period, with Miles Wood and Ty Smith picking up New Jersey’s goals. Playing in his NHL debut, Smith’s first NHL goal tied the game and earned the Devils their first point of the year. Egor Sharangovich was also making his NHL debut, while Ryan Murray (trade), Dmitry Kulikov (free agency) and Andreas Johnsson (trade), were all playing their first game for New Jersey.
BOS
NJ