Boston Bruins vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks

The Bruins enter this matchup rested and confident following a 6-2 road victory against the Oilers on Wednesday. Boston was plus $1.50 in that game. That win halted a six-game Bruins losing streak that was mainly caused by a lack of scoring. Boston had only produced 11 goals during its six-game losing skid. But now the Bruins have some offensive momentum and are playing an awful Vancouver team. The Canucks have only 36 points. That is the second-fewest in the NHL. Vancouver's main problem is its lack of success on home ice. The Canucks are 4-12-2 in their 18 home games. That is the worst home record in the NHL. They have lost five consecutive home games. The Canucks are playing without a lot of key weaponry, missing three top-9 forwards in Conor Garland, Marco Rossi, and Filip Chytil. They are 24th offensively and rank 31st defensively. Take the Bruins.

Boston's offense continues to struggle, losing two in a row, scoring a single goal each time. The offense is ranked 29th in goals scored and shooting percentage, plus last on the power play. The Bruins are on a 31-20-1 run UNDER the total. Vancouver comes off a 4-0 shutout of defending champion Florida. Canucks' defenseman Derek Forbort returned to the Vancouver lineup, while All-star goalie Thatcher Demko made his first start of the season this week, strengthening the defensive play. Take Boston/Vancouver UNDER the total. 

Vancouver is coming off a 4-3 win in Ottawa over the weekend, and the Canucks' offense is 14th in goals scored and seventh in shooting percentage. The defense is a concern, however, losing four of seven while surrendering 26 goals. They had a 5-2 loss at home as a -190 favorite to an Islanders squad that is 29th in goals scored (2.45 per game), and a 7-3 loss to an Edmonton offense that is 18th in goals scored and 28th in shooting percentage. The Canucks' defense is 23rd in goals allowed (3.18 per game) and in save percentage (.890). Vancouver is on a 9-4-1 run OVER the total. Boston has won two in a row under new coach Joe Sacco. The defense is 20th in goals given up, 19th in penalty killing, and 21st in save percentage (.895). There is plenty of offensive talent in captain Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Their five-on-five play has struggled but has looked much better under the new coach. In the last game, the Bruins controlled the shot attempts, won 55% of the faceoffs, and outshot the Red Wings 29-20. Take Vancouver/Boston OVER the total.

Boston has won two of three and is 16-5-7 on the road this season. The defense is third in save percentage and fifth in goals allowed, while the offense is Top 10 in goals scored. The Bruins are 44-13 ATS after a non-conference tilt, plus 45-16 after having won two of their last three. Vancouver has cooled off losing four in a row and six of nine. They've surrendered 22 goals in just the last four games. Boston blanked Vancouver, 4-0, when they last met and the Canucks are 5-16 revenging a loss where the team scored one or fewer goals. Play Boston as a Max Play.