Bruins vs Golden Knights Picks and Predictions: Swayman & Co. Hit Jackpot

The Boston Bruins’ six-game road trip continues tonight with a date in the desert versus the Vegas Golden Knights, who have won just two of their last seven games and are slipping in the playoff race. The Bruins, on the other hand, come in having won five of their last six games and have moved from underdog to favorite at some books. 

Can the Golden Knights build off their win over the Sharks and the return of goalie Robin Lehner? Can the Bruins go on a run and make some noise in the Atlantic Division? Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for Bruins vs. Golden Knights.

Bruins vs Golden Knights odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

Boston opened at +100 but has moved as low as -115 as of this afternoon. The total sits at 5.5 and leans to the Over. These teams met in Boston back in December where the Knights won 4-1 as -115 favorites.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Bruins vs Golden Knights predictions

• Prediction: Bruins ML (-110)
• Prediction: Under 5.5 (+100)
• Best bet: Pietrangelo Under 0.5  points (-140)

Predictions made on 3/03/2022 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Bruins vs Golden Knights game info

• Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
• Date: Thursday, March 3, 2022
• Puck drop: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Bruins vs Golden Knights betting preview

Key injuries

Bruins: Curtis Lazar F (Questionable).
Golden Knights: Max Pacioretty F (Questionable), Mark Stone F (Out), Mattias Janmark F (Out), Alec Martinez D (Out).

Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Bruins vs Golden Knights head-to-head record since 2017-18

Bruins: 5-2 SU, 18 goals for.
Golden Knights: T2-5 SU, 16 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Bruins are 5-1 SU in the last six meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Golden Knights.

Bruins vs Golden Knights picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

In a matchup that's happened just twice since 2019, the Boston Bruins visit the Vegas Golden Knights. The home side isn’t even the favorite at some books as the streaking Bruins have the second-most points in hockey since January 1 and have been cruising on their current road trip. Bruce Cassidy’s squad has ripped off three wins in four games during its current six-game road trip with the only blemish being a 4-3 loss in Anaheim on Tuesday.

Since the beginning of February, the Bruins have been one of the hardest teams to score against and have a 2.25 GAA, which is the third-best mark over that stretch. Their current 6-2-1 run includes a 5-1 win over the Avalanche, a 7-0 thumping of the Kings, and a 2-1 shootout loss versus Igor Shesterkin and the Rangers. Boston opened at +100 but has swung all the way to -115 in some places, and although we think the Bruins are one of the most overvalued teams by the books, this is the right price versus a struggling Vegas team.

The Knights currently sit third in the Pacific and seventh in the West. The playoffs are not a given as the Oilers and Stars sit one point back from Vegas in the Western standings. There’s a scenario where the Knights finish as low as 10th in the conference.

Since Christmas, Peter DeBoer’s team is 10-12 SU. Injuries have played a major factor as Robin Lehner, Max Pacioretty, and Mark Stone’s absences have made it difficult to stay consistent, but even with Lehner back, this is a squad that still has no Stone, Alec Martinez, or Mattias Janmark while Pacioretty is questionable. Alex Pietrangelo has just two points over his last 14 games, Jack Eichel has one goal across his six games, and the offense is scoring just 2.73 goals per game — a Bottom-10 mark — over the last two-plus months. Lehner’s reinsertion into the lineup does nothing to boost a struggling offense against one of the best defensive teams in hockey.

The Knights have scored more than three goals (empty-netters excluded) just once over their last seven games. The power play is 1 for its last 17 and now the Knights will have to find some goals at even strength versus a Bruins team that sits in the Top 5 in most 5-on-5 metrics, including being first in expected goals against.

Offensively, the Bruins are being led by Brad Marchand (five points over his last four games), Taylor Hall (nine points over his last seven), and even Jake DeBrusk (seven goals in his last six).  The top two lines have been leaned on heavily and have produced of late. Lehner looked decent in his return over the Sharks but Boston represents a much stiffer challenge.

Last, but certainly not least, is Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman. He sat out the last game and will likely draw the start after shutting out the Kings on Monday. Since being called back up after Tuukka Rask retired, the young netminder is 5-1-1 with an incredible 1.13 GAA and a .960 SV%. If the Knights thought scoring against the combo of James Reimer and Zachary Sawchenko was difficult in their 3-1 win versus the Sharks, Swayman could look like Jean-Sebastian Giguere in the 2003 playoffs to them tonight. 

We’re hopping on the side of the market movement and hitting the Bruins on the ML at -110.

Prediction: Bruins moneyline (-110)

Over/Under analysis

Swayman and the Under have been synonymous of late. The 23-year-old goalie has allowed more than one goal just once over his last six starts, which includes two shutouts. He’s 3-9-1 O/U across his last 13 starts and owns the best GAA (1.81) in hockey since November 1. 

Vegas will have to work for every bit of ice tonight as the Bruins are a shutdown squad at even strength and catch the Knights at the perfect time as the Vegas power play is in a rut.

The Boston offense has been doing enough to win games but outside of the 7-0 win in Los Angeles, this hasn’t been an elite offense for the majority of the season. Boston sits 16th in 5-on-5 goals scored and its 2.96 goals per game on the season ranks outside the Top 15. The usually potent power play has scored in just two of its last 10 games. 

The Knights have hit the Under in four straight games and are 7-2-1 to the Under across their last 10. Vegas won 4-1 in a December meeting in Boston in a game that saw just two minor penalties and 49 total shots on net. Tonight’s match could see very few shots on goal as both teams rank in the Top 5 in shots against since January 1. 

Each team is playing for a lot at this point in the season and we don’t see either Lehner or Swayman giving up a handful of goals. Open ice will be at a premium, making things difficult for either offense to dominate possession.

Prediction: Under 5.5 (+100)

Best bet

It hasn’t been a great 2022 for defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. The $8.8-million D-man has just two points over his last 14 games and is seeing reduced ice time. He’s been stuck on a pairing with Ben Hutton, which isn’t doing his offensive output any favors, and he's currently on the second power-play unit. 

His points/60 is at a seven-season low and we doubt he bucks this trend against possibly the stingiest team and hottest goalie. It’s not often we hit Under markets in player props but with Pietrangelo paying -140 to be held off the score sheet — something that has happened 12 times over his last 14 games — we’re driving the fade train on the expensive rearguard. 

Pick: Alex Pietrangelo Under 0.5 points (-140)

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