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The Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning will clash for the second time in five days on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay won the first match 4-1. In our Bruins vs. Lightning NHL betting picks, we tell you if Boston will gain revenge.
- What: NHL – Atlantic Division
- Who: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
- When: Tuesday, January 14th, 2025
- Time: 7 p.m ET
The big picture
One of the worst defenses in the Atlantic will be up against the division’s highest scorers when the Bruins host the Lightning on Tuesday in Massachusetts.
The Boston Bruins are 21-19-5 in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins sit fourth in the table with 47 points from 45 matches.
Boston has a goal differential of -26. They have scored 116 and conceded 142. It is by far the worst points difference record in the Atlantic Division, and only the Buffalo Sabres (146) at the bottom of the table have conceded more goals.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have a 23-15-3 record and sit fourth in the table with 49 points from 41 matches.
Tampa has a goal differential of +38. They have scored 151 goals and conceded 113. Only the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division have scored more goals (156) in the Eastern Conference.
The fixture at TD Garden will be the second time the two franchises have met this season. Tampa Bay won the first match 4-1 at the Amalie Arena on Thursday.
Goals from Anthony Cirelli, Michael Eyssimont, Brandon Hagel, and Brayden Point clinched the win for the Lightning. Mason Lohrei scored the Bruins’ solitary goal.
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting
Despite having a home-ice advantage, the Bruins are not the favorites to win on the money line.
The bookmakers favor the Lightning at -120, with the Bruins at +100.
On the handicap, the Bruins are receiving the 1.5-point start. To win with the spread, Boston is -250. The Lightning are +205 to win and cover the 1.5-point spread.
The total spread is 5.5 goals. Over 5.5 is the favorite at -120, with under 5.5 at +100.
More Bruins vs. Lightning wagering options are available on our odds table. All our odds are from the best NHL betting online sites. You can read more about the sites and betting on the NHL on our How to Bet on Hockey Online page.
| Bruins vs. Lightning |  |  |  |
| Bruins | +100 | +100 | +100 |
| Lightning | -120 | -120 | -120 |
| Bruins (+1.5) | -250 | -250 | -250 |
| Lightning (-1.5) | +205 | +205 | +205 |
| Over 5.5 | -120 | -120 | -120 |
| Under 5.5 | +100 | +100 | +100 |
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have been in poor form in recent weeks. They are 3-6-1 in their previous ten, averaging 2.5 goals per game while giving up 2.9 goals per match.
In their most recent outing, the Bruins defeated the Panthers 4-3 after overtime at the Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. David Pastrnak scored a power-play goal with just two seconds of overtime remaining.
Back in the win column 👌 pic.twitter.com/i5V6c5KDuP
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 11, 2025
The Bruins led three times before Pastrnak finally clinched the win. In doing so, Pastrnak brought a six-match losing skid to an end.
David Pastrnak has been the in-form player for the Bruins this season. He has 19 goals and 26 assists. When he’s on song, Boston always has a chance.
But one man can’t make a team. And in the betting to win the Atlantic Division, the bookmakers are struggling to make a case for the Bruins. Interim head coach Joe Sacco’s team is the fifth favorite at +6000.
On top of the nine-point gap to the Maple Leafs at the top, the Bruins’ defensive frailties are also partly responsible for their long odds in the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins are +1600 to win the Eastern Conference and +3300 to win the 2025 Stanley Cup.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 5-4-1 in their last ten matches. Jon Cooper’s team has averaged 2.9 goals per game and conceded 2.1 goals on average across that sequence.
In their most recent outing, the Lightning defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Sunday.
Sunday Funday!#GoBolts | #TBLvsPIT pic.twitter.com/cGiK63UyC3
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 13, 2025
Nikita Kucherov scored two goals in the comprehensive win, with Cooper’s team immediately bouncing back from their 3-2 overtime defeat to the Devils on Saturday.
Tampa Bay is seven points behind the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic and is the +375 third favorite to win the division.
The Lightning are +800 to win the Eastern Conference and +1600 to win the Stanley Cup.
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Picks and Predictions
Boston is 12-7-3 at home, the Lightning is 10-9-2 on the road.
Only two of Boston’s defeats in their losing streak of six were at TD Garden. Prior to that run, the Bruins won six in a row on home ice. But before that run of six wins in December, the Bruins really were struggling in Massachusetts.
The Lightning ended a four-match losing skid on the road in Sunday’s 5–2 win over the Penguins.
Overall, Tampa Bay has done well on the road this season, so they should have little to fear when they face Boston.
In more recent times, the Lightning have won three of their last four. Boston has lost six of their last seven. The hosts are the more inconsistent of the two teams. As a result, our betting pick is for the Lightning to win on the money line.
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