Bruins vs Avalanche Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

Poor netminding has the Colorado Avalanche winless to begin the season, but the Boston Bruins are the perfect opponent to get their first dub.

Neil Parker • Betting Analyst

Oct 16, 2024 • 10:21 ET • 4 min read

NHL

Match starts: 9 hrs

COL

44 %

BOS

56 %

EXPERT PICK - MONEYLINE

Colorado -114

Read Analysis

Photo By - Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche remain winless and host the 2-2 Boston Bruins at Ball Arena on Wednesday, October 16.

My Bruins vs. Avalanche predictions expect Colorado to put its first tick in the win column, with both clubs eyeing early statistical correction. Read more in the NHL picks below.

Bruins vs Avalanche prediction

My best bet
Avalanche moneyline (-114 at Pinnacle)

My analysis
The Colorado Avalanche have lost three consecutive games, including two on home ice at Ball Arena.

They’ve been doubled up on the scoresheet with a -10 goal differential and just 10 tallies of their own. The Avs are also missing three top-six forwards and four if you count captain Gabriel Landeskog (hip).

It’s a mess, and it’s been particularly messy in net, with Colorado sporting a league-low .797 SV% at 5-on-5 and an overall .753 mark.

Still, this is a buy-low spot on the Avs because the saves are coming, and the offense has won the possession and expected goals battles at 5-on-5 in all three games.

The Boston Bruins are the perfect opponent for Colorado to right the ship against.

Boston is behind the eight ball in both Corsi For percentage (47.3%) and expected goals percentage (45.1%) at 5-on-5, and the Bruins also have a league-high 14.1% shooting percentage at 5-on-5.

Additionally, while the Avs have a 33.3% power play, their 57.1% PK is eyeing huge statistical correction. I don’t think the Bruins have the PP personnel to be a major power-play threat tonight, and I also value Colorado defenseman Devon Toews (lower body) expected to return to the lineup Wednesday.

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Bruins vs Avalanche same-game parlay (SGP)

Avalanche moneyline

Under 6.5 goals

Ross Colton Over 0.5 points

+525 at DraftKings

With statistical correction ahead of Boston’s team shooting percentage and Colorado’s team save percentage I lean to the Under. The Avalanche have tidying up to do defensively, and the Bruins don’t have a dangerous lineup jumping the boards.

Boston has also generated the seventh-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at 5-on-5.

Colorado has winger Ross Colton jumping the boards with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen in all situations, and the trio has been on the ice for 7.49 goals and 22.48 high-danger scoring chances to start the year. They’ve also combined for a 70.6 CF% at 5-on-5.

Finally, there is a small edge available with the DraftKings odds for this same-game parlay because it's trading at just +500 at bet365. The difference attaches a positive expected value of 4% to the +525 DraftKings price.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Bruins vs Avalanche odds

Bruins vs Avalanche live odds

Bruins vs Avalanche opening odds

Puck line: Boston +1.5 (-245) | Colorado -1.5 (+210)
Moneyline: Boston +103 | Colorado -115
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-102) | Under 6.5 (-113)

Bruins vs Avalanche moneyline and Over/Under analysis

There hasn’t been enough betting action on this game to move the moneyline significantly at either bet365 or Pinnacle.
Pinnacle opened with the Avs as a -115 favorite, while bet365 remains at its opening Colorado -120.
It’s been a similar story with the consensus 6.5 total, and both shops hanging the higher vig on the Under.

Bruins vs Avalanche trend

The Colorado Avalanche have hit the moneyline in 33 of their last 48 home games (+6.30 Units / 6% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Avalanche.

Bruins vs Avalanche game info

Location:	Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date:	Wednesday, 10-16-2024
Puck drop:	9:30 p.m. ET
TV:	TNT

Bruins vs Avalanche latest injuries

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Neil Parker

Betting Analyst

Neil Parker is, first and foremost, a sports fan. A huge supporter of the Cowboys, Cubs, and Maple Leafs, he has managed to parlay his passion into writing gigs with Sportsbook Review, USA TODAY, theScore, DraftKings Playbook, and RotoWire, among many others. He also co-hosted the Daily Fantasy Edge podcast and can now be seen offering expert golf and hockey advice on Covers’ Before you Bet broadcast.

Neil takes a numbers-based approach to his handicapping and complements his in-depth statistical analysis with a keen eye on the markets to provide the best available odds. He loves to lean on his rolodex of idioms to offset his inner nerd. When it comes to wagering, he throws down on anything that catches his eye at bet365, Betway and BetVictor. He also keeps a close eye on CoolBet because the polar bear brand often has outlier NHL and NFL moneyline prices.

Neil graduated with honors from St. Thomas University in 2007 before completing his BEd at Acadia University in 2010. After teaching a myriad of courses and subjects, he found a groove delivering fun lessons to exceptional learners in non-traditional classroom environments. If his decade-plus teaching run taught him anything about sports betting, it’s to stay the course and use the summer – or offseason – to refresh and prepare to be better in the year to come.

Neil’s top pieces of advice for recreational bettors are to stay within your means and to remember sportsbooks aren’t bank accounts. Don’t be afraid to pull those winnings and treat yourself to a lifetime experience courtesy of a big win.