The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins meet Tuesday in NHL action at the TD Garden. Here’s a Bruins vs. Rangers Prediction. This article will include a Bruins vs. Rangers Pick.
New York Rangers Betting Preview
The Rangers had 77 points last year and have gone two straight seasons with no playoff appearances. Coach Mike Sullivan is back for his second season.
The Rangers were busy this offseason, which included trading Vincent Trocheck and loading up on defensive players Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson. The offense should improve with the additions of Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. The goalie depth behind Igor Shesterkin also improves by bringing in Joonas Korpisalo from Boston. The Rangers are clearly improved on paper and should be back in the playoff mix, but they’re in a tough Metropolitan Division, so there are no off nights. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller are no longer spring chickens. The Rangers have clearly improved their floor and should have a better season than last year.
Boston Bruins Betting Preview
The Bruins have made the postseason in nine of the last 10 years, but they’ve won just one playoff series since the 2021-22 season. Coach Marco Sturm enters his second season.
The main move for the Bruins was adding JJ Peterka, who has scored 25 or more goals in each of the last three seasons. He adds youth and speed to the offense while Will Borgen bolsters the defense. The Bruins traded away Joonas Korpisalo, while Viktor Arvidsson and Andrew Peeke left in free agency. The Bruins have a history of consistently being a playoff team, and there’s a proven core in place of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman. However, that Atlantic Division is murder row, and it puts the Bruins on the bubble. There are also questions in terms of scoring depth, and young players need to step up. Still, the Bruins are a franchise that’s missed the playoffs just three times in the last two decades.
Why the Boston Bruins will win
- The Bruins have won each of their last 10 home openers.
- The Rangers have lost five of their last six night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Bruins have covered the puck line in each of their last nine games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Rangers have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five road games.
- The home team has won the third period in nine of the Rangers’ last 10 games.
Why the New York Rangers will win
- The Bruins have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
- The Rangers have won four of their last five games as underdogs against the Bruins.
- The road team has covered the puck line in each of the Bruins’ last six games.
- The Bruins have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five games as favorites.
- The Rangers have won the second period in eight of their last nine road games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Bruins’ last six night games against Eastern Conference opponents at TD Garden have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Ten of the Rangers’ last 12 road games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in 12 of the Rangers’ last 13 road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 2.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in three of the Bruins’ last four games as favorites.
Boston Bruins Player Prop Facts
- Pavel Zacha has scored at least one goal in four of his last five appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- David Pastrnak has recorded at least one assist in 12 of the Bruins’ last 13 Tuesday home games.
- Morgan Geekie ranked T4th in the league for multi-goal games (8) last season.
New York Rangers Player Prop Facts
- Mika Zibanejad has scored the first goal in three of the Rangers’ last four games as road underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Pavel Dorofeyev has scored at least one goal in each of his last four appearances against the Bruins.
- Mika Zibanejad has recorded at least one assist in seven of the Rangers’ last eight games as underdogs against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Pavel Dorofeyev ranked 2nd in the league for Power Play Goals (20) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Boston Bruins ranked 31st in the league for power play goals against last season (64).
- The Boston Bruins ranked 2nd in the league in penalty minutes last season (978).
- The New York Rangers ranked 5th in the league in power play percentage last season (24.65%).
- The New York Rangers ranked 31st in the league for shots per game last season (25.2).
Bruins vs Rangers Injury Report
Matthew Poitras is out for the Bruins due to a lower-body injury.
Adam Sykora and Aidan Thompson are out for the Rangers. Vincent Iorio is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Bruins vs Rangers Prediction
We’re getting the cheaper price on the Rangers, who were more aggressive this offseason and enter the season on paper as the team with the higher upside. Outside of adding Petrik, the Bruins are, for the most part, the same team and have similar questions of scoring depth. The Rangers have won seven of the last 10 games against the Bruins. While it’s obviously going to take time to feel these teams out, it does feel like we’re getting the more favorable pick with the better team. I’ll take a stab at the Rangers.