Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils

With the Devils riding a 3-game win streak and Boston now stumbling again after a recent loss, the odds are stacked high against the struggling B’s. The Black and Gold continue to have issues defensively, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman has posted an .870 save percentage over his last four starts. On the other bench, Jack Hughes has feasted on Boston across his short career, racking up 12 points in 8 games. With Timo Meier finally finding rhythm alongside Nico Hischier and a potential wild card playoff berth on the line, the home side has every reason to come out flying. Boston, now 31–38 and sitting second-to-last in the Atlantic Division, is already eliminated from playoff contention and lacks both urgency and lineup firepower. Although the -267 line limits the value, it's hard to recommend the Bruins as underdogs with a thin blueline and sputtering offense. Recommendation: Bet New Jersey to win outright. Grade: B — higher likelihood, but limited return. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Look to New Jersey's Jack Hughes to continue carving up a Bruins squad that's been leaking goals this season, especially now that Boston's unreliable blue line is missing a key anchor in Brandon Carlo due to a lower-body injury. The Devils enter this matchup on a 3-game win streak, while the B’s have lost just one, sitting at 31–38 and second-to-last in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey, 41–29, remains in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race and should come out pushing the pace with seeding on the line. Boston, already eliminated from playoff contention, may open up their game and lean into a looser, riskier offensive style. David Pastrnak, despite his team’s struggles, has had success against New Jersey, scoring 7 goals in their last 5 meetings. Combine that with Vitek Vanecek’s inconsistencies in goal and Jeremy Swayman facing limited defensive support, and this matchup sets up for a high-event, high-shot volume game. Given the trends, motivation levels, and questionable goaltending on both ends, this points to a high-scoring affair, though Boston’s overall form and postseason irrelevance keep this Over pick at a B- grade for reliability. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Coming off three straight losses, the Devils are limping toward the end of a turbulent season, and the timing couldn’t be worse with the B’s hungry to get back on track in front of their home crowd. Boston, led by a red-hot David Pastrňák, who’s tallied six points over his last four games, is currently 4-1 in its last five home games and is still tightening its grip on home-ice advantage heading into playoff seeding. While the Devils have struggled to stay healthy—with Dougie Hamilton still out and rookie netminder Nico Daws recently dealing with an upper-body injury—Boston remains largely healthy and benefits from superior goaltending with Swayman expected in net. Historically, the Spoked B has handled Jersey well, winning four of their last five meetings by multiple goals. New Jersey’s defense has allowed 14 goals in their last three games, and as their playoff chances dwindle, motivation may wane. The -1.5 puckline at +130 provides strong value, and with Boston’s urgency to lock in playoff positioning against a vulnerable, shorthanded Devils unit, this pick earns a B grade for its solid upside and fair risk. Odds and availability are subject to change.