The Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals open their seasons Wednesday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT / HBO Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Bruins vs. Capitals odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Captials won 2-1
Boston finished in the basement of the Atlantic Division last season with a 33-39-10 record, including 13-25-3 on the road. It missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and posted its fewest wins in a full season since 2006. The Bruins had a -50 goal differential.
Washington finished atop the Metropolitan Division with a 51-22-9 record, including 26-9-6 at home. The Capitals won their First Round playoff series 4-1 against the Montreal Canadiens before being eliminated 4-1 in the Second Round by the Carolina Hurricanes. The team had a +56 goal differential.
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Bruins at Capitals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Bruins +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Capitals -190 (bet $190 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Bruins +1.5 (-155) | Capitals -1.5 (+125)Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Bruins at Capitals projected goalies
Jeremy Swayman (22-29-7, 3.12 GAA, .892 SV%, 4 SO in 2024-25) vs. Logan Thompson (31-6-6, 2.49 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO in 2024-25)
Setting a career high in starts last season (58), Swayman significantly underperformed. He recorded his lowest win total since starting just 10 games in his rookie season while posting the highest GAA and lowest SV% of his career.
In his fifth NHL season and first with the Capitals, Thompson made an immediate impact. He set career highs in wins and GAA and was an integral part of Washington’s success last season.
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Bruins at Capitals picks and predictionsPrediction
Capitals 3, Bruins 1
PASS.
There is minimal value on the Capitals to take care of the Bruins in their home opener.
BET CAPITALS -1.5 (+125).
Two of the three meetings between these teams last season ended with a margin of 2 goals or more, with the favorite winning all 3 games. The Capitals were dominant on home ice, while the Bruins struggled on the road, with Swayman having a difficult season in net. With the momentum of the crowd, there is value on the Capitals.
BET UNDER 5.5 (-110).
The Capitals had an Under record of 44-41-7 last season, while the Bruins had an Under record of 39-41-2. Two of the three meetings last season resulted in the Under. The Capitals scored 3.49 goals per game last season, while the Bruins averaged just 2.7. Expect Thompson to be the difference-maker in this matchup, picking up where he left off last season.
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