The Boston Bruins will return from the All-Star break on Thursday night to take on the New York Islanders as +115 moneyline underdogs at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Bruins return to action with 57 points, six points behind the third-place Montreal Canadiens in the Atlantic Division and in control of the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference as of Thursday.
Boston entered All-Star Weekend on a losing note, dropping two of its last three games while pegged as moneyline favorites. The Bruins? recent rough patch comes on the heels of a five-game winning streak that vaulted them back into the Eastern Conference playoff race following their slow start.
Thursday night?s Bruins vs. Islanders betting matchup on Long Island marks the second meeting of the season between the two clubs, and the first of two clashes over the next nine days.
The Islanders posted a 3-2 win over the Bruins in Boston back in October, dropping Boston to 1-4 in their last five games against the Isles. However, the B?s are a solid 4-1 in their last five visits to Long Island.
The Isles have been one of the success stories of the NHL campaign. New York hits the ice on Thursday with a three-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins atop the Metropolitan Division, on the strength of their current stretch of six wins in their last seven games, and are 7-1 in their last eight at home.
The Islanders have also been clicking on offense, averaging over 4.5 goals per game in their last seven, with the total playing OVER in four of their last six.
Following Thursday?s game the Islanders travel to Detroit for a date with the Red Wings on Saturday, while the Bruins return home to face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
In other upcoming action the Canadiens visit the New York Rangers on Thursday as +120 moneyline underdogs, while the Rangers are pegged as -140 favorites. The Habs, who have won three straight games, have a busy weekend on tap with a pair of matinees on Saturday and Sunday against the Capitals and Coyotes.
The Rangers have struggled with consistency of late, going 3-3 in their last six, but can turn things around in their upcoming home dates against the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers on Saturday and Monday before playing host to the Bruins next week in a critical matchup between the Wild Card rivals.
Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images
