NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Golden Knights vs Bruins (Thursday, February 29)
Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: Adin Hill (right).
Golden Knights vs. Bruins Odds
| Golden Knights Odds | +130 |
| Bruins Odds | -155 |
| Over / Under | 5.5 -105 / -115 |
Here's everything you need to know about the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Boston Bruins on Thursday, February 29 – including our expert NHL prediction and pick.
Thursday night’s interconference NHL matchup between the Golden Knights and the Bruins is shaping up to be a defensively charged battle with two of the best teams in the league looking to continue their dominance.
With both teams showing notable strengths and weaknesses throughout the season, focusing on specific statistical trends and current lineup situations is our main focus in this battle. Let's get into my NHL preview and Golden Knights vs. Bruins prediction.
While they are positioned decently in offensive metrics, the Golden Knights find themselves in a challenging spot due to the absences of All-Stars Mark Stone and Jack Eichel. Their rankings in Corsi (19th) and expected goals (xG; 15th) suggest middle-of-the-pack offensive capability, which could be significantly hampered further without Stone and Eichel.
Despite these offensive challenges, Vegas’ ranking in high danger chances (14th) indicates it can still pose a threat in creating scoring opportunities.
However, Vegas’ defense raises concerns — they are 29th in Corsi Against and 23rd in high danger chances against, suggesting vulnerabilities that the Bruins could exploit.
Starting goalie Adin Hill's stellar performance this season — sixth in save percentage and fourth in goals saved above expected — becomes a critical factor for the Golden Knights to stay competitive.
The Bruins, on the other hand, exhibit a contrasting statistical profile. Their offense has struggled with efficiency, ranking 23rd in Corsi and 21st in xG, alongside a low 24th in high danger chances. This lack of offensive firepower could level the playing field against a Vegas team missing key offensive assets.
Defensively, the Bruins are much more formidable, ranking fifth in xG Against and second in high danger chances against, showcasing their ability to stifle scoring opportunities.
Starting goalie Jeremy Swayman's solid performance this season — 11th in save percentage and sixth in goals saved above expected — further bolsters the Bruins' defensive resilience.
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Golden Knights vs. Bruins
Betting Pick & Prediction
Given the current dynamics — Vegas' offensive challenges due to significant player absences and both teams having strong goaltenders — taking under 5.5 goals emerges as the most logical betting strategy for this game.
The Golden Knights' compromised scoring ability without Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, combined with both teams' defensive strengths, particularly the Bruins' capacity to limit high danger chances, set the stage for a low-scoring affair. Additionally, the statistical trends, such as Vegas' low ranking in Corsi Against and the Bruins' struggles in generating high quality offensive chances, reinforce the expectation of a tightly contested, defensively oriented game.
Moreover, the last time these teams met on Jan. 11, the game ended regulation in a 1-1 tie with Vegas ultimately winning 2-1 in overtime. Both Adin Hill and Jeremy Swayman's exceptional performances this season suggest they could be the deciding factors in keeping the game low and tight.
Betting under 5.5 goals not only reflects each team’s season-long statistics, but also acknowledges the potential impact of current circumstances and player matchups.
Pick: Under 5.5 Goals
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