Bruins vs.Rangers: NHL Odds and Best Bets

The Boston Bruins start their new year Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. ET, facing off against a struggling New York Rangers team. Current NHL odds have the game priced as a pick ‘em with both sides at -110 odds.

To say the Bruins are ready to turn the calendar to 2025 is an understatement. Jim Montgomery received his walking papers while the team languished in inconsistency. Franchise cornerstone David Pastrnak is on pace for under 30 goals.

Boston’s been up and down all year and looking for consistency. A win against the tumultuous Rangers would start 2025 on the right foot.

Here’s how I’m betting on this game in a full slate of Thursday night NHL games.

Boston Bruins -110 Moneyline

A home and home against the Columbus Blue Jackets put the Jekyll and Hyde 2024-25 Bruins on full display. Game one saw the Bruins fall flat on their collective faces out of the holiday break, losing 6-2. Boston rebounded in game two and put together a complete game to win 4-0.

The 4-0 Columbus win was arguably the best 60 minutes of hockey the Bruins played this season, but they couldn’t build on it.

The New York Rangers aren’t inconsistent, they’re just bad. Amid a mid-season losing streak, the Rangers are on the verge of total collapse. A severe disconnect exists between the players and HC Peter Laviolette, while GM Chris Drury grasps at straws.

Drury’s already traded Kaapo Kakko and Jacob Trouba, but players like Zac Jones openly voice discontent with Laviolette’s regime. To put it bluntly, the Rangers are a mess. I like the Bruins to have enough to win tonight.

Game Total Under 5.5

Betting under the game total is a correlated play. The Bruins are good at one thing: limiting opposition goals.

The Bruins have held opponents to three goals or under eight times in their previous eleven games. Boston’s defensive commitment under interim HC Joe Sacco keeps them in playoff contention while they figure out their offensive deficiencies.

New York doesn’t present a challenge for Boston’s defense. The Rangers are one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL, averaging 2.81 goals per game. The Bruins score even less per game at 2.62.

I expect Boston’s game plan to remain the same. They’ll work hard to limit New York’s shots and scoring opportunities, hoping to score enough to win.

The Rangers, of course, need this win to pull out of their current skid.

Boston needs it more. The Bruins are in third place in the Atlantic Division but only four points off the division lead. With neither team able to fill the net, I expect a low-scoring affair where Boston likely prevails 3-2.