Bruins vs Penguins Picks and Predictions: Goals Found Few And Far Between in Boston Win

The Boston Bruins have a prime opportunity to take over third place in the Atlantic Division with a victory on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a loss by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston is a point behind the Lightning, who are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. 

Pittsburgh will be trying to keep its hold on the third spot in the Metropolitan Division with the Washington Capitals a point behind. 

Can the Bs get into third place, or will the Pens be able to defend at home? Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for the Bruins vs. Penguins on Thursday, April 21

Bruins vs Penguins odds

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

The Penguins are the home favorite, opening at -133, before coming down a bit to -125, while the Bruins opened at +110, but moved to +105. The total opened at 5.5 but moved to 6.0, with the over at -105 and the under at -115. 

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 Penguins predictions

• Prediction: Bruins ML (+105)
• Prediction: Under 6 (-115)
• Best bet: McAvoy Over 0.5 asts (+134)

Predictions made on 4/21/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Bruins vs Penguins game info

• Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
• Date: Thursday, April 21, 2022
• Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: SportsNet PT, NESN

Bruins vs Penguins betting preview

Key injuries

Bruins: Linus Ullmark G (Out), Jesper Froden RW (Out), David Pastrnak RW (Out), Hampus Lindholm D (Out), Jakub Zboril D (Out).
Penguins: Tristan Jarry G (Out), Evgeni Malkin C (Out), Nathan Beaulieu D (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Bruins vs Penguins head-to-head record

Bruins: 6-4 SU, 25 goals for.
Penguins: 4-6 SU, 22 goals for.

Betting trend to know

The Bruins are 6-1 in their last seven against Metropolitan opponents. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Penguins.

Bruins vs Penguins 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

The Boston Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at home, 2-1, and will be trying to repeat history tonight. The two teams have each won a game in their building this season against one another. 

The Bruins have had some key players injured and that has been partially to blame for Boston losing three of its last five. Forward David Pastrnak, defenseman Hampus Lindholm, and goalie Linus Ullmark are all out and not expected to return until this weekend at the earliest. 

Two players that have picked up the slack for the injured are defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Jake DeBrusk. McAvoy scored the game-winner in overtime on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

DeBrusk is another Bruin playing well, not just recently, but for most of the second half of the season. The forward has benefitted from a line change, moving up to the first line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. 

Before the move, DeBrusk had seven goals and eight assists in 37 games. In 33 games since, he has had 16 tallies and seven apples. 

The Penguins are going to be without one of their key players as Evgeni Malkin is serving the last of a four-game suspension for his cross check to the face of Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki. 

Without Malkin, the Penguins lose one of their top centers and someone who has scored 37 points in as many games. Geno was also out of uniform in the Penguins' 2-1 loss on Saturday to this same team, and his absence has spelled trouble for the Pens who have lost two of three without him.

Although both sides will be missing pieces for this tilt, I believe the Bruins will be able to repeat their success and pick up another two points off of Pittsburgh tonight.

Prediction: Bruins moneyline (+105 at WynnBET)

Over/Under analysis

The Under is the right play for a couple of reasons, one of them being out of the last seven meetings between the two teams stretching back to 2021, the Under has played to 5-1-1. 

The second reason is the Under has been trending with both teams in recent games. The Bruins have hit it in four of their last six, with the other two being pushes. It is also 5-1-3 in Boston’s last nine road games. 

The defense obviously has a lot to do with that as Boston ranks fourth in goals against, allowing 2.67 per contest. Goalie Jeremy Swayman has a lot do with that as he is fifth in the league in goals against with 2.33 and 12th in SV% at .916.

Pittsburgh is right behind Boston, ranking fifth in goals against with 2.70. The only problem is starting goalie Tristan Jarry is out with a broken foot, and Casey DeSmith has not been as reliable between the pipes as the team would like him to be. DeSmith enters this game with a 2.90 GAA and a .907 SV%.

It is tempting to take the alternate line of 5.5 and get +105 odds, but take the safe play and go with 6.0. The Under should hit there. 

Prediction: Under 6 (-115 at BetMGM)

Best bet

It is fairly uncommon for a defenseman to lead a team in assists, but Charlie McAvoy has been a machine for the Bruins. The defenseman leads them with 44, followed by Brad Marchand with 42. 

McAvoy is tied for 10th in the league for most assists by a defenseman and he should have some opportunities in Thursday’s game against the Penguins. 

Playing alongside the first line, he has three goal scorers to pass to in DeBrusk, Bergeron, and Marchand. Those three skaters have combined for 74 markers on the season. McAvoy is also on the first power-play unit, which is converting 21.4% of the time. 

Look for him to get an assist against the Penguins and a shaky goaltender.

Pick: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 assists (+130)

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