Bruins Odds: Boston Hits Road As Underdog Vs. Blues In Critical Stretch
After losing six of their past seven games, the Boston Bruins face a huge challenge Friday when they visit the St. Louis Blues, who are home favorites on the NHL betting lines at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Bruins enter the final 10 days of their regular season schedule in a free fall that started with a dismal four-game road trip during which they failed to garner a point.
Despite outshooting opponents in five of their past seven games, the Bruins enter Friday night’s matchup at Scottrade Center with just 10 total goals during their current 1-6 run, and now find themselves just one point up on the Detroit Red Wings in the race for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Boston’s sole win during its current slide came in Toronto last Saturday, posting a 3-1 victory over the Maple Leafs on the strength of two power-play goals, ending a five-game scoring drought with the man advantage.
The Bruins failed to build on that momentum in a 2-1 loss in New Jersey on Tuesday, despite outshooting the Devils by a 40-15 margin, and have now seen the total play under in six of their past eight games at the sportsbooks.
The Bruins’ current road woes come in stark contrast to the road warrior reputation they earned during their preceding 11-2 run away from TD Garden. However, Boston’s 24-12-3 road record still ranks among the best in the NHL this season.
While the Bruins have struggled to find the back of the net, the Blues have been nearly unbeatable during a five-game win streak that has featured four straight shutouts, and seen the total play under in each of the victories.
St. Louis has won 11 of 13 games during its current tear, including its current home win streak, and enter the home stretch tied with the Dallas Stars atop the Western Conference standings at 101 points.
The Blues, who are climbing on the odds to win the Stanley Cup, also have stymied Boston in recent meetings, winning four of their past five, including a 2-0 shutout victory in Beantown on Dec. 22, and have held the Bruins to two or fewer goals in six of their past seven meetings.
Following their date with the Blues, the Bruins travel to Chicago on Sunday to face the Blackhawks in their final road contest of the regular season. The struggling Blackhawks are winless in their past four at the United Center, and have dropped three of their past four against the Bruins, including a 4-2 loss in Boston on March 3.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
