Mammoth vs Bruins

Utah Mammoth roll into TD Garden on a two-game win streak after dramatic victories over Seattle and Pittsburgh, while Boston is looking to bounce back from a humbling loss in Minnesota that snapped a four-game heater in which they outscored opponents 20-11. With Logan Cooley now on injured reserve and Alexander Kerfoot still sidelined, Utah’s center depth behind Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton is stretched, whereas Boston’s injury list is shorter but still notable with Viktor Arvidsson day-to-day and depth pieces like Matej Blumel and Henri Jokiharju on IR. The key skater edge leans Boston’s way: David Pastrnak is scorching again with seven points over his last two games, Charlie McAvoy has returned to heavy minutes on the back end, and Jeremy Swayman/Korpisalo form a strong tandem behind a group that is 11-5-0 at home, while Utah’s profile is more road-volatile at 7-10-2 despite elite shot suppression around 25 shots against per night. Given the combination of Boston’s home-ice record, Utah’s missing top scorer, and the Bruins’ recent surge in 5-on-5 offense, I like Boston at essentially pick’em money as a modest value side at -105, but respect Utah’s underlying numbers enough to keep this at a B rather than an A-level confidence. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:23am

Both clubs come in playing high-event hockey on the scoreboard, with Utah’s last four games landing on 6, 7, 8, and 9 total goals and Boston’s December slate featuring multiple 7+ goal outings before the 6-2 loss in Minnesota, so neither side is exactly in a low-scoring groove. Cooley’s absence does trim some finishing talent from the Mammoth’s top six, but their recent surge has been driven by a committee of Keller, Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, and Michael Carcone, while Boston counters with Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, and secondary scoring from players like Fraser Minten and Mark Kastelic that has pushed their season goal totals to roughly 6.3 combined goals per game. Utah’s shot-suppression profile (around 25 shots against per game) and Karel Vejmelka’s strong road form argue for some respect for the under, yet Boston’s 11-5-0 home record, their resurgent power play, and a Mammoth group that has quietly allowed 4+ in four of its last seven tilt me toward expecting both offenses to generate enough chances to clear a 6-goal total more often than not, even at a juiced -120. I’ll grade Over 6 as a B- play: the recent scoring trends and full-season goal environments are supportive, but the juice and Utah’s defensive structure cap the value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:23am

Given Utah’s recent run of tight games — six of their last eight decided by two goals or fewer, including the comeback OT win in Pittsburgh — and Boston’s own mix of blowouts and one-goal grinders during a 4-2 stretch in December, the matchup profile leans toward a competitive, late-possession game rather than a multi-goal rout either way. Cooley being out and Kerfoot still on IR lowers Utah’s ceiling for running away on the road, while Boston’s blue line with McAvoy back, Hampus Lindholm settling in, and strong goaltending from Swayman/Korpisalo makes it harder to see the Bruins getting blown out at home despite their most recent 6-2 loss. Key skaters like Pastrnak, Keller, and Schmaltz all drive offense, but Utah’s elite shot-suppression and Boston’s physical defensive core often funnel games toward single-goal margins, which conceptually supports Bruins +1.5 on the puckline even though the price is extremely steep at -267. I’d rather lay the modest moneyline with Boston, but for bettors prioritizing safety over price, Bruins +1.5 is still a lean with a C+ grade: likely to cash, but with limited long-term value at this juice. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 16/12/2025 09:23am