NHL Odds & Pick for Rangers vs. Bruins: How to Bet Boston at Home (May 6)
Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: David Krejci.
- The Boston Bruins will take on the New York Rangers in NHL action on Thursday night.
- The Rangers enter the game depleted without a number of key players, while the Bruins have been putting up consistent results as of late.
- Nicholas Martin breaks down the game below and shares a betting pick for the matchup based on his analysis.
Rangers vs. Bruins Odds
| Rangers Odds | +188 |
| Bruins Odds | -225 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 |
| Time | Thursday, 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC Sports |
The Rangers will head into TD Garden to take on the Bruins one night after an extremely testy affair at MSG against Washington, with their depleted roster ultimately taking a fourth consecutive loss.
Boston will enter looking to keep its slim chance at home-ice advantage alive after a 4-3 overtime loss in New Jersey on Tuesday.
In case you haven't followed the NHL at all this week, Tom Wilson injured Rangers superstar forward in Artemi Panarin on Monday in controversial fashion, and after the league decided not to suspend Wilson, New York came out aggressively seeking retribution in an extremely high-spirited contest, including 100 PIMs in the opening period alone.
The Rangers fell flat with regards to the actual game, falling 4-2 after an emotional hat-trick from Capitals star T.J. Oshie just days after his father's passing, a story that certainly deserves to be the main takeaway from the night.
The Rangers have lost four games in a row by multiple goals in what has been a disappointing finish for a group that has played a lot of good hockey for much of the final months of this season. Ultimately missing the playoffs again led owner James Dolan to make the decision to fire president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton in a move that shocked many.
New York will remain without many regular roster players tomorrow night, including key pieces in Panarin, Chris Kreider, and Jacob Trouba as the Rangers attempt to regroup and close out the year on a strong note in their two remaining contests against Boston.
Expected goals (also known as xG) is a predictive statistic that gives an indication of whether results are based on sustainable factors like a steady creation of scoring chances, or whether it is down to aspects such as shooting luck or outstanding goaltending.
Simply put, an expected goals rate (xGF%) above 50% is considered good because it means a team is creating the majority of the scoring chances. Anything below 50% is usually a sign that a team is struggling to control play.
xG numbers and advanced stats cited from Evolving Hockey, MoneyPuck and Natural Stat Trick.
Since the trade deadline, the Bruins have put together excellent results, with a 10-2-1 record and an xGF% of 61.82.
Boston is still competing with a shot to claim home ice in Round 1 but mainly is just trying to stay healthy and sharp. It still will certainly look to put together a more sound effort than it did last time out in its 4-3 overtime loss at New Jersey.
The additions of Taylor Hall and Mike Reilly continue to work out very well for Boston.
Hall has given life to the second line for the Bruins, whose main concern for much of this year has been a lack of depth scoring up front. The trio consisting of David Krejci in the middle of Hall and Craig Smith owns an xGF% of 58.6 over 146 minutes of play together and has combined for 36 points in the 13 games since Hall's Bruins debut.
Boston seems to be rounding into form at the right time and will undoubtedly enter as a legitimate cup contender led by arguably the best line in hockey and a deep group of intelligent, mobile defenders.
The Bruins will likely start Tuukka Rask in this one, having rested him Tuesday against New Jersey.
Betting Analysis & Pick
New York faces the NHL’s toughest schedule spot by win percentage this season as it plays a rested home team on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Rangers will again be without several key pieces, including Panarin, and will be in a tough spot against a Boston group that has put up very consistent results of late.
I see value in backing a very strong Bruins club to handle a depleted Rangers squad in this favorable spot as they gear up for what could possibly be a deep run toward the cup.
Pick: Boston Regulation Win (-125).
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