Bruins Just Hanging on as a Top 10 Stanley Cup Contender; Do They Offer Value?

• The Boston Bruins’ Stanley Cup odds have fallen to +2200 after being as high as +950 in July
• Injuries and a lack of scoring depth have been a major reason for Boston’s underwhelming season
• Do the Bruins still offer any value?

The Boston Bruins just can’t catch a break.  After losing 163 man-games to injury through the first 49 games of the season, Boston placed former Vezina trophy winner Tuukka Rask on IR Monday.

The Bruins have placed Tuukka Rask on injured reserve amid a flurry of transactions. https://t.co/HtYbwi43Oo pic.twitter.com/7RmavShYml

— NESN (@NESN) January 28, 2019

The Bruins, who’ve already endured injuries to stars Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron, are clinging to one of the final two playoff spots in the East, and have seen their odds to win the 2019 Stanley Cup plummet since the start of the season.

2019 Stanley Cup Odds

Fortunately for Boston fans, 17 of the Bruins’ final 33 games are against non-playoff teams, but even if they do qualify for the postseason, how much noise can they make?

The Bruins Lack Firepower

To say Boston’s offense is top heavy would be an understatement. 42% of their goals have come from their number one line of Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

David Pastrnak’s goal last night…. ? pic.twitter.com/PD2MkfQ5Uo

— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) October 12, 2018

As the Lightning demonstrated in last year’s playoffs, if you shut down that line, you shut down the Bruins.

ANDREI VASILEVSKIY ROBS PATRICE BERGERON’S PARTIAL BREAKAWAY IN THE FINAL 3 MINUTES TO KEEP TAMPA’S LEAD INTACT!#GoBolts 2 – 1 #NHLBruins

(TB Leads Series 3-1) pic.twitter.com/JPKr5HhrYC

— Hockey Daily (@HockeyDaily365) May 6, 2018

Just two other players on the entire team have scored more than six goals this season, and Boston has the second lowest shooting percentage in the East. It’s often said that defense wins championships, but the Bruins will need to score plenty in order to compete in a playoff series with offensive juggernauts like the Maple Leafs and Lightning.

The very best of the best in the NHL!

For the full power rankings: https://t.co/wWehjaZtgK pic.twitter.com/IkqSqPRSDk

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 22, 2019

The Bruins Have Had Their Fair Share of Road Woes

While Boston has shined at home, they’ve been abysmal on the road, winning just 10 times in 24 games. Of the 16 teams that currently occupy a playoff position, only the Dallas Stars have won fewer times away from home.

Called it. #BOSvsPHI pic.twitter.com/PPxe7XsLCJ

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) January 17, 2019

With little chance of finishing high enough to secure home ice advantage, the Bruins will need to solve their road woes if they have any aspirations of making a deep playoff run. 10 of their final 14 regular season games are on the road, which will go a long way in determining how high they’ll finish in the standings.

Fade the Bruins, Roll the Dice on the Islanders

Boston’s lack of depth and inability to win away from TD Garden will ultimately sink their 2019 Stanley Cup hopes, but if you’re looking for a darkhorse, keep the New York Islanders on your radar.

Those are some silky mitts @Barzal_97. #Isles pic.twitter.com/82ffSqAKSf

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 23, 2019

The Isles lead the NHL in wins since mid-December and have vaulted into first place in the Metropolitan division. They have points in each of their last six games and +1600 seems like a good price for the team that has allowed the fewest goals in the entire league.