In today’s betting guide, two powerhouse teams in the Atlantic Division the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens who are out of the playoff picture.
Boston Bruins (-350) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (+260)
The Bruins and Blue Jackets enter this game playing very different hockey of late. The Bruins are on fire and have climbed right back into the thick of things in their division fighting for a top-three spot. They have won five of six and eight of their past 10 games. The Blue Jackets on the other hand have lost five in a row and allowed 21 goals in those games.
The Bruins have scored 18 goals in the past three games, including six in the second period vs the New Jersey Devils, so the Blue Jackets’ defence will have a very tough time keeping pucks out of their net as they have all season. The Blue Jackets have also had a hard time on the road this season and tonight shouldn’t get any easier for them. With how the Bruins have been scoring and the Blue Jackets allowing goals, this one is bound to hit the over (O6.5, -105) with the Bruins on top.
Tampa Bay Lightning (-350) vs Montreal Canadiens (+260)
The Lightning are coming off a game in which they beat up the Chicago Blackhawks last night. They have won four games in a row and their offence has started to come back to them, putting up at least four goals in three consecutive games. The Canadiens have lost three in a row and four of five, being blown out in the past two games by the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers.
Brian Elliott should be the starter in goal for the Lightning as this matchup comes against a weak opponent who has also struggled. They will want to keep Andrei Vasilevskiy more rested for another long-anticipated playoff run where he is key to the success. With the offence of the Lightning ramping up and the inability to shut the door for the Canadiens, take the Lightning and over (6.5, +100) in this one.
Odds via Yahoo and BetMGM.
