Vegas (32-17-6) at Boston (27-23-6)
- When: Feb 8 2025, 3:30 PM
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA, USA
- TV: ABC
Game Preview
Vegas Favored on the Moneyline (-155) | Total Set at Over 5.5 (-120)
The Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights are both looking to head into the 4 Nations Face-Off break with a win when they clash on Saturday afternoon in Boston. Both teams have been inconsistent lately, making this an intriguing matchup from a betting perspective.
Vegas Golden Knights
The defending Stanley Cup champions have been struggling, winning just four of their last 15 games (4-8-3). However, they snapped a four-game winless streak with a much-needed 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
A major positive for Vegas has been its defensive play. The Golden Knights have limited opponents to just 15 and 14 shots on goal in their last two games, showing signs of improvement. Coach Bruce Cassidy, a former Bruins bench boss, emphasized the importance of structured, disciplined play to keep Vegas in the Pacific Division race.
“When we start mismanaging the puck, that’s when we get into trouble,” Cassidy said. “We’ve started to clean that up, and if we can capitalize better on our chances, we’ll be in a good spot.”
Offensively, Jack Eichel has been the driving force, scoring eight goals in his last nine games and leading the team with 67 points. While he’s been heating up, he also knows that the foundation of this team’s success is on the defensive end.
“Sometimes, when you’re not scoring, you have to rely on your defensive structure to win games,” Eichel said. “For us, it starts with playing the right way defensively.”
Boston Bruins
Boston’s season has been filled with ups and downs, and Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers was another tough blow. The Bruins entered the third period with a lead, only to collapse late, marking their first loss when leading after two periods this season (16-1-4).
Despite that setback, Boston remains competitive in the Atlantic Division. The team has approached this final stretch before the break as a test of their playoff readiness, as defenseman Brandon Carlo pointed out.
“We’re treating these games like a mini-playoff series,” Carlo said. “We want to play with that level of intensity every night.”
Boston’s offense continues to be led by David Pastrnak, who extended his point streak to 12 games, the longest active streak in the NHL. Elias Lindholm has also stepped up, contributing points in four of his last five contests.
Interim coach Joe Sacco sees this as a prime opportunity for his team to rebound.
“This is a great challenge for us,” Sacco said. “If we can put together a strong performance against a top-tier team like Vegas, it sets us up well heading into the break.”
Betting Prediction
This game features two teams looking to build momentum, but Vegas has been slightly sharper defensively, while Boston has struggled to close out games. The Golden Knights have the edge with their improved defensive structure and Eichel’s hot streak, while the Bruins will need to find answers for their late-game collapses.
Prediction: Vegas wins a close one (-155), but the under (5.5) is the best play given both teams’ defensive strengths.
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- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
