The Carolina Hurricanes (12-5-1) face the Boston Bruins (12-8-0) Monday. Puck drop from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Hurricanes vs. Bruins odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Boston leads 1-0 after a 2-1 home win Nov. 1
The Canes dropped the second of a back-to-back Saturday with a 4-3 OT loss to the Edmonton Oilers. They were -119 home favorites as the Over 6.5 cashed. LW Nikolaj Ehlers lit the lamp for the fourth time. Carolina has lost 2 of 3 at home, which is abnormal for a great home team.
Raise your hand if you said after 20 games, this retooling Boston Bruins team would lead the Atlantic. No one? Exactly. This team got right back into the winner’s circle after having a 7-game winning streak snapped Thursday. On Saturday at the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins won 3-2 as +136 road dogs. LW Viktor Arvidsson scored his sixth goal before leaving with a lower-body injury that required a move to Injured Reserve. RW David Pastrnak had 2 assists and has 8 points in a 4-game point streak.
Hurricanes at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:58 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Hurricanes -190 (bet $190 to win $100) | Bruins +155 (bet $100 to win $155)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+125) | Bruins +1.5 (-150)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)Hurricanes at Bruins projected goalies
Brandon Bussi (4-1-1, 2.60 GAA, .898 SV%) vs. Jeremy Swayman (8-4-0, 2.99 GAA, .902 SV%)
The 27-year-old rookie is expected to get the call. His last start came Nov. 9 in a 5-4 win at the Toronto Maple Leafs. He stopped 16 of 20. Bussi has only started 5 games in his career, and he hasn’t faced Boston before.
Sway was in goal for the 3-2 win over the Montreal Saturday. He stopped 26-of-28 shots. He has been awesome this month with a 5-0-0 record, a 2.37 GAA and .923 SV%. He beat Carolina 2-1 Nov. 1, stopping 28 of 29.
Hurricanes at Bruins picks and predictionsPrediction
Bruins 3, Hurricanes 2
The BRUINS (+155) are the way to go as it’s crazy to see Carolina as -190 road favorites with a rookie goalie. The expected start for Swayman is what swayed the pendulum for me.
I would consider JEREMY SWAYMAN OVER 26.5 SAVES (-130). He stopped 26 last time out but stopped 30, 30, 30 and 28 his last 4 starts.
I’m not touching this one because Carolina has significant Over trends. The Canes have allowed 3 or 4 goals in 6 straight games. Boston is also 7-3 O/U in its last 10.
These teams play each other tightly. The last 3 meetings have had 6 or fewer goals, and the Over is just 3-7 in the last 10 meetings. But Carolina’s goaltending concerns me.
PASS.
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