Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton Oilers Prediction, NHL Odds

Daniel Coyle | Updated Dec 19, 2024

NHL: Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers will be aiming to claim sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division standings when they host the Boston Bruins in Thursday NHL betting action.

Boston
27-24-5-1
AT
December 19, 2024, 9:00 PM ET
Rogers Place
Edmonton
34-17-3-1
Puckline +1.5 -165
Moneyline +150
Over / Under o +6
Puckline -1.5 +140
Moneyline -185
Over / Under u +6

The Oilers are coming off a 6-5 loss to Florida on Monday night but have avoided consecutive defeats while winning nine of 12 to pull within two points of Los Angeles in the divisional standings. The Bruins are coming off a 4-3 overtime win in Calgary on Tuesday night and will be looking to close out their current five-game Western swing with a third straight victory.

The Oilers lead the way as -185 favourites on the Thursday NHL odds. The Bruins trail as +150 underdogs and the total is listed at 6.0.

Bruins vs. Oilers NHL Betting Odds

The Bruins and Oilers hit the ice at Rogers Place for the first of two meetings this season. The Bruins hold a slight edge in head-to-head action, winning six of their past 11 dates. However, it has been the road team that has dominated in recent clashes between these clubs, winning eight straight. That includes four straight Bruins wins in Edmonton, all by a single goal, capped by a 6-5 victory in their last visit to the Alberta capital last February.

Low scoring has also been commonplace, with these clubs combining to score more than five total goals just twice in their past 11 contests. The Bruins have rediscovered their scoring touch in this past week’s visits to Vancouver and Calgary, scoring nine total goals after mustering just two markers while losing the first two games on this road trip.

Overall, the Bruins have won nine of 13 including five of seven on the road and have limited opponents to two or fewer goals seven times over that stretch. The Oilers have filled the net during their current 9-3-0 run, potting 4.33 goals per game and have scored at least five goals on four occasions during their current 5-1-0 surge on home ice and now rank eighth in the NHL with 3.29 goals scored per game.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins needed to twice overcome two-goal deficits before finally sealing Tuesday’s 3-2 with David Pastrnak’s overtime goal. The club’s slow start in Calgary extends a worrisome trend that has seen the Bruins fail to score in the first 20 minutes in four of their past five outings and enjoy a lead during the first period just once in seven outings. That adds further value to the lucrative +100 odds in Thursday’s NHL game props of the Bruins once again getting shut out in the opening frame.

Despite those woes, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Boston attack. The club has scored by committee, with six different skaters bulging the twine during their 2-0-0 run. Pastrnak leads the way with two goals and five points over the past two games and 25-year-old rookie centre Marc McLaughlin has taken advantage of opportunity with the big club by scoring in each of the past two games.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers once again roared out of the gate on Monday night to seize an early lead over Florida but gave it all back while surrendering three goals in the third period on their way to a 6-5 loss to the Panthers. That marked the most goals this team has surrendered since October and snaps a stingy 8-1-0 run during which they allowed just 1.89 goals per game. The Oilers have also received offensive opportunities from up and down their lineup, with eight different shooters scoring 18 total goals over the past three games.

Zach Hyman has not missed a beat in his recent return from injury, scoring seven times in six December outings, with six of those markers coming in five home appearances. Recent picked up off the waiver wire, Kasperi Kapanen has earned his keep with two goals in three games, while another former Toronto Maple Leaf Connor Brown has stepped up with three goals and two helpers during a three-game point streak.

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