The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins square off at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, with the puck drop scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
The Bruins are coming off a low-scoring 2-1 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night, while the Penguins picked up a 2-0 win against the Nashville Predators, keeping their bleak playoff hopes alive.
This is the third and final regular-season meeting, with the Bruins picking up a pair of one-goal wins in the season series.
Will the Bruins cap off a regular-season sweep, helping to put another nail in the coffin of the Penguins, or will Pittsburgh get a much-needed two points? We’ll discuss in our NHL betting picks for Bruins vs. Penguins on Saturday, April 1.
Bruins vs Penguins best odds
Bruins vs Penguins picks and predictions
The Bruins suffered a rare regulation loss on Tuesday at home against the Nashville Predators, as Linus Ullmark was dealt an even rarer loss. The team bounced back with a 2-1 OT win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
However, the Boston offense has been struggling a bit lately, going for two or fewer goals in each of the past two games, and four of the previous six outings.
Perhaps the B’s are just a little fat and happy, having already clinched the President’s Trophy for the best record in the regular season. Currently, Boston has 121 points, 23 points clear of the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. So there really isn’t a ton of incentive to win, as Boston is locked into the top spot.
Does that mean Boston will take its foot off the gas completely? Well, no. It still has seven games left in the regular season, and head coach Jim Montgomery likely wants to make sure the team doesn’t fall flat down the stretch, and into the postseason.
The Penguins could be a little more desperate, however, especially at home. Pittsburgh has 84 points, which puts them into the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, one point clear of the Florida Panthers. The Pens also have a game in hand, although their standing is certainly precarious.
Pittsburgh has to be focused, as its spot in the playoffs isn’t cemented like Boston’s, and there are no guarantees the Pens will even be in the playoffs. Every point counts, and it will likely play like that down the stretch.
Facing the Bruins on home ice is important. Pittsburgh lost 6-5 in OT on November 1 in the first meeting, while the B’s topped the Pens at Fenway Park in the Winter Classic outdoors on January 2. The Pens have been a major thorn in the Bruins’ side, and that will continue as Pittsburgh finally breaks through for a much-needed win.
My best bet: Penguins moneyline (+115)
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Bruins vs Penguins moneyline analysis
The Bruins have managed to win 20 of the past 26 games on the road, while going 37-17 in their past 54 Metropolitan Division games.
In addition, the B’s are an impressive 41-12 in the past 53 games played on a day of rest, too.
Boston has had some difficulty covering the puck line as a favorite lately, however, going 0-3 in the past three games on the puck line when favored, while 4-8 in the past 12 games on the puck line when favored, including four outright losses.
As far as the Penguins are concerned, it’s been a roller coaster ride. They picked up a 2-0 win over Nashville last time out, but that was right after coughing up a touchdown in Detroit, falling to the Red Wings 7-4 on Tuesday.
As an underdog, the Pens have covered the puck line in each of the past two, and are 10-6 in the past 16 games as an underdog on the puck line. They’re also a respectable 3-3 in the past six games on the puck line as a home underdog.
Is Pittsburgh going to dominate here? Likely no. But Boston doesn’t have that hunger right now, as the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference is sewn up. The Pens are fighting for their playoff lives, and the desperation will pay off Saturday afternoon. Plus, the home team is 21-5 in the past 26 in this series, and PPG Paints Arena has been a house of horrors for the B’s, going 3-9 in their past 12 skates in Pittsburgh.
Bruins vs Penguins Over/Under analysis
It’s been all about the Under lately for the B’s, going 5-1 in the past six games overall. Boston has averaged just 2.3 goals per game (GPG) in the past four outings, and the defense and goaltending have yielded just 12 goals in the past nine outings, or 1.3 GPG.
The Under has also cashed the Under at a 7-2-2 clip in the past 11 games against the Metropolitan Division, while going 4-1 in the past five against Eastern Conference foes, and the Under is 5-0 in the past five games when playing on a day of rest, too.
For the Penguins, the Under has connected in four of the past six games at PPG Paints Arena, and the Under hit in the most recent meeting with the B’s. Pittsburgh has scored 20 times in the past eight games overall, going for two or fewer goals in five of those outings.
In fact, the Under is 10-3 in the past 13 meetings overall in this series, while the Under is 5-1 in the past six meetings in the Steel City.
The way these teams have been struggling to light the lamp lately, let’s go Under, and play together with the Penguins for a potentially lucrative parlay.
Bruins vs Penguins betting trend to know
The Bruins are 3-9 in the past 12 trips to Pittsburgh, with the home team cashing in 21 of the past 26 in the series. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs Penguins.
Bruins vs Penguins game info
| Location: | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Date: | Saturday, April 1, 2023 |
| Puck drop: | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ABC |
