Bruins Odds: Boston Welcome Stanley Cup Favorites Blackhawks, Capitals

The Boston Bruins wrap up their four-game homestand this week with visits from the teams sporting the best Stanley Cup odds, starting with the Chicago Blackhawks, who arrive in town Thursday with strong 19-4 odds to win the championship at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Thursday night’s Blackhawks vs. Bruins betting matchup at TD Garden marks a change in pace for Boston, which has faced non-playoff teams in three of its past five outings, most recently claiming a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.

That victory improved the Bruins to 3-1 over their past four, allowing only one goal against in each of their last three wins and in four of their past five. However, the Bruins have struggled with consistency at home since early in the season, failing to string together consecutive victories at TD Garden since Dec. 20, tallying just six wins in 16 home contests since.

Despite its home ice woes, Boston remains in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, entering Thursday just two points back of second place in the Atlantic Division standings, a position currently owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have a road date with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.

The Blackhawks take on the Bruins following a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.

Chicago continues to hold a slim edge over the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues atop the Central Division standings despite a rough three-week stretch in which it has posted just four wins in nine games. However, the Blackhawks are a solid 5-1 over their past six road dates and also 3-1 in their past four visits to TD Garden.

Following Thursday night’s date with the defending champions, the Bruins play host to the current Stanley Cup favorite Washington Capitals, who pay a visit to Boston on Saturday.

The Capitals, perched at 17-4 on the Stanley Cup odds, continued the winning ways that have lifted them to the top of the NHL standings with a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. That improved the Capitals to 12-3 over their past 15 and an impressive 21-7-2 on the road, second only to Boston in the Eastern Conference.

Washington also has dominated Boston in recent years, both at home and on the road, posting victories in each of its past five meetings and going 11-4 over its past 15, including a 5-2 in seven dates at TD Garden, according to the OddsShark NHL Database.

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