The Vegas Golden Knights won their first meeting over the Boston Bruins last Monday on the road and will now try for the season sweep at home.
The Bruins are in the finale of a three-game road trip. They shut out the defending champion Colorado Avalanche but lost two nights ago to the Arizona Coyotes.
Sunday’s game against the Bruins is the last of a three-game homestand for Vegas. The Golden Knights got pummeled by the New York Rangers (5-1), but defeated the Philadelphia Flyers.
Can Vegas get its second straight win at T-Mobile before heading out on the road or will Boston win before returning home? Keep reading our NHL picks and predictions below to find out.
Bruins vs Golden Knights best odds
Bruins vs Golden Knights picks and predictions
Six days ago, the Vegas Golden Knights came to Beantown and defeated the Boston Bruins 4-3 in a shootout. They did so without an injured Jack Eichel, the team’s points and goal leader.
So, Sunday’s game at T-Mobile Arena should favor Vegas, right? Wrong. NHL odds have the Knights listed as a +140 underdog, while the Bruins are at -152.
Eichel has played one of two games since missing the Boston game and is questionable for Sunday with a lower-body injury. Vegas' head coach Bruce Cassidy said his star is day-to-day.
A much bigger concern is Shea Theodore. The defenseman has been ruled out for Sunday with a leg injury. Losing the team’s assist leader is a huge blow because of fellow defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s absence (family illness).
That leaves Vegas very thin on the blue line and Boston's league-leading offense (3.92 goals per game) should be able to take advantage of that deficiency.
Without Theodore, the defensive lines will get shuffled a bit. Nicholas Hague will take his place on the second unit with Brayden McNabb. Ben Hutton — who is often a healthy scratch — will probably be pressed into service.
Theodore is also on the first unit of the power play. Daniil Miromanov will most likely take that spot. The Bruins hold the advantage on the power play, ranking third on the power play (28.7%).
Vegas has consistently struggled on the man advantage. Last year, it was 25th, converting 18.4% of the time. This year, it had started to creep towards the Top 10 but has regressed as of late. The Knights are now 18th, with a conversion rate of 22%.
Boston’s loss to the lowly Coyotes is a bit of a red flag, but the Bruins should bounce back and split the season series.
My best bet: Bruins moneyline (-152 at BetRivers)
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Bruins vs Golden Knights moneyline analysis
In addition to the edge Boston has in goals scored, goals allowed, and power play, is the performance of starting goalie Linus Ullmark. The 29-year-old leads all goalies in goals against average with 1.82 and save percentage of .939.
Ullmark is also tops in wins with 15. In his two December starts, he faced the Colorado Avalanche twice and shut them down to the tune of a shutout and a one-goal outing.
He did not start against the Golden Knights when the two teams met in Boston six days ago but should get the nod on Sunday.
For Vegas, it will probably be No. 1 goalie Logan Thompson. Thompson did play in the Boston game, allowing three goals in a shootout victory that snapped Boston’s record 14-game home winning streak.
His last game, however, was a clunker. Thompson allowed four goals over 1:54 in the third period to the New York Rangers at home, losing 5-1.
Another reason to like Boston is that the road team is 5-1 in the last six meetings. Boston also holds a 6-2 mark in the last eight meetings between the two.
Bruins vs Golden Knights Over/Under analysis
When the two teams met last Monday, the total was 6 and went Over. It's the same for tonight's contest and I expect the same result.
Vegas is averaging 3.28 goals a game, good for 13th in the league. Boston leads the NHL at 3.92. The Bruins are also first in goals allowed, averaging 2.15. Vegas is fifth with an average of 2.66.
In the last five games, the Golden Knights have gone 2-2-1 to the Over. The Bruins have the same 2-2-1 mark in their last five.
But the Over is definitely trending with both teams. The Golden Knights have hit the Over in five of their last seven games against the Atlantic Division. They are also 7-3-1 on the Over in their last 11 games following a win.
The Bruins have hit the Over in four of their last six contests against the Western Conference and the Over is 12-5 in the Bruins' last 17 road games.
With the Bruins second in the NHL in shots — averaging 35.3 a game — and Vegas 11th at 32.4, there should be enough scoring opportunities. This game should hit the Over.
Bruins vs Golden Knights betting trend to know
The Bruins are 6-2 in the last eight meetings between the two teams and the road team is 5-1 in the last six meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs Golden Knights.
Bruins vs Golden Knights game info
| Location: | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV |
| Date: | Sunday, December 11, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NESN, ATTSN |
