Penguins vs Bruins Prediction, Odds & Best Bets | NHL on ESPN (1/4): Boston’s Winning Ways Continue

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After there were only two hockey games yesterday, the National Hockey League has a massive 13-game slate lined up for Thursday, Jan. 4. One matchup that NHL enthusiasts won’t want to miss is the 7 p.m. ET showdown between the Pittsburgh Penguins (18-14-4) and the red-hot Boston Bruins (23-7-6) at TD Garden.

The Penguins are out for revenge Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals snapped their winning streak at three games. On the flip side, the Bruins extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets two nights ago, made possible by James Van Riemsdyk’s three-point night (1 G, 2 A) and Linus Ullmark turning aside 26 of the 27 shots he faced.

When it comes to the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Finals odds, Bovada views the Penguins and Bruins in different lights. While Pittsburgh is only available at +4000 odds (15th) to hoist the Stanley Cup next spring, Boston is tied with the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche for the best odds (+850) on the sportsbook.

Not only will this game be quite the on-ice battle, but it also brings various betting opportunities to the table. Without wasting more time, let’s dive into tonight’s Penguins vs Bruins prediction and best bets.

Penguins vs Bruins NHL on ESPN Tonight (1/4)

Penguins vs Bruins Matchup Information

• Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins (18-14-4, 8-7-3 Away) vs. Boston Bruins (23-7-6, 11-2-3 Home)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
• Date: Thursday, Jan. 4, 2023
• Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time
• Penguins vs. Bruins TV Info: ESPN

Penguins vs Bruins Odds

Penguins vs Bruins odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Thursday, Jan. 4 at 10:08 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Penguins vs Bruins Spread

• Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5 (-195)
• Boston Bruins -1.5 (+165)

Penguins vs Bruins Over/Under

• Over 6 Goals (-105)
• Under 6 Goals (-115)

Penguins vs Bruins Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Penguins (+133)
• Boston Bruins (-155)

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NHL Best Bets and Picks

Looking to get in on even more hockey action? Be sure to check out our NHL picks page for consensus picks for every game on any day of the year.

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Penguins vs Bruins Betting Trends

• Pittsburgh is 5-2 straight up in its last seven games.
• Boston is 4-1 straight up in its last five games vs. Pittsburgh.
• The total hit the Over in four of Pittsburgh’s last five road games.
• The total hit the Under in six of Boston’s last nine games vs. the Eastern Conference.
• The total hit the Under in 10 of the last 14 Pittsburgh-Boston matchups.

Penguins vs Bruins Prediction & Pick (1/4)

After a brief four-game skid, the Bruins have turned things around with four straight wins ahead of tonight’s contest. They’ve looked fantastic over their current run, outscoring those opponents 18-7 on aggregate while going 6-for-11 on the power play (54.5%) and killing 13-of-15 penalties (86.7%). The special team success isn’t a surprise, though, seeing as how Boston ranks fourth and second on the PP and PK, respectively, this season.

As good as the Penguins have been this season, their special team units aren’t as consistent as the opposition. While their 82.3 PK% (10th) is respectable, their power play only converts on 13.9% of opportunities (26th) and has only produced three goals on the last 25 opportunities (12.0%). That’s pretty abysmal considering Pittsburgh boasts the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, and more.

Another thing going against the Penguins is their lack of success against the Bruins. While the visitors have some momentum stemming from a 5-2 SU record in their last seven outings, Pittsburgh has also lost four of its last five games against Boston while going 0-for-17 on the power play along the way. Having said that, it’s worth noting that each of those losses came by a one-goal margin.

Even worse is the fact that TD Garden has brought nothing but hell to the Penguins over the last several years.

While some teams thrive in enemy environments, the Penguins have dropped 13 of their last 15 trips to Boston since December 2015. Seven outings were multi-goal losses for a Pittsburgh team that has only scored two total goals in its last two visits to TD Garden.

Things won’t get any easier this time, seeing as the Bruins are 11-5 SU at home during the 2023-24 NHL season while the Penguins are 8-10 SU on the road. David Pastrnak has been Boston’s best player at home thus far, leading the team in goals (13), assists (14), and points (27) at TD Garden. For reference, Brad Marchand has the next-highest point total at 17, further illustrating just how dominant Pastrnak has been in front of a home crowd.

Daily Faceoff projects that Jeremy Swayman will start for the Bruins tonight, which works in their favor. The 25-year-old netminder is 6-1-1 with a .939 save percentage, 1.74 goals-against average, and one shutout in eight starts at TD Garden this season. Meanwhile, the Penguins’ Alex Nedeljkovic is 1-1-2 with a .897 SV% and 3.36 GAA in four road starts thus far.

 

The Bruins are on a roll right now and I don’t see them slowing down tonight. They have the Penguins’ number — especially at TD Garden — and should be able to get the job done again due to their advantages both on special teams and in between the pipes. Back Boston to notch its fifth straight win.

As far as the best bet goes, let’s take the Under on the 6-goal total. After all, the Under has been a regular occurrence for the Penguins and Bruins this season, going a combined 39-31-2 so far. Additionally, 10 of the last 14 Pittsburgh-Boston matchups fell short of their projected totals, averaging 5.3 goals per contest. Considering how each of those 10 instances saw five or fewer goals scored, it’s safe to say that this game won’t be a barn-burner.

Penguins vs Bruins Prediction: BOS wins

Best Penguins vs Bruins NHL Bet: u6 Total Goals (-115)

Get 50% up to $750 on this pick over on Bovada

Best Penguins vs Bruins NHL Player Prop (1/4)

As far as the best Penguins vs. Bruins player prop goes tonight, I’m going with a David Pastrnak anytime goal.

Pastrnak heads into tonight’s contest tied for the sixth-most goals in the NHL (22). He’s racked up eight goals in his last 11 outings alone and has back-to-back two-goal performances in his last two home games. In fact, 13 of his 22 goals this season came in just 16 outings at TD Garden. Needless to say, he plays some of his best hockey when Bruins fans are in attendance.

With eight goals in his last nine games against the Penguins, don’t be surprised if Pastrnak lights up the lamp on Thursday.

Best Penguins vs Bruins Prop Bet: David Pastrnak Anytime Goal (-125)

Get 50% up to $750 on this pick over on Bovada

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