Capitals vs Bruins Picks, Predictions & Odds for Saturday Afternoon Hockey

• The Boston Bruins are slight -115 moneyline favorites vs the Washington Capitals
• Washington starts the day four points back of Boston for the final Wild Card berth in the East
• See my Capitals vs Bruins prediction and latest odds below for Saturday’s matinee

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It’s another biggie in the battle for one of the final playoff spots in the East, as the Boston Bruins (34-22-5, 23-8-1 home) host the Washington Capitals (31-25-7, 12-14-4 away).

Boston, which holds the final Wild Card berth, starts the day just four points up on the Capitals, with both Columbus and Ottawa sandwiched in between them.

The books are ever-so-slightly going with the home team in the NHL odds.

Puck drop is set for 12:30pm ET from TD Garden in Beantown, with ABC providing the broadcast coverage.

Capitals vs Bruins Picks & Prediction

• Bruins ML (-115 at Bet365)

The Caps had been rolling, ripping off wins in six of their last seven, before dropping back-to-back games against Montreal and Utah.

In somewhat of a stunner, Washington played seller at the trade deadline, dealing veteran defenceman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks.

Gaining a first-round pick helps in the long term, as the franchise prepares for its post-Alex Ovechkin era, but it diminishes a defense that was just outside the Top 10 in goals against, and struggled with the penalty kill, in 19th.

This will be the second of three meetings with the Bruins, whom they last saw way back on October 8.

With two games over the next two weeks (the next one at home), Washington can still control its destiny with wins.

Capitals vs Bruins Key Stats

Boston limps back home after getting thumped in Nashville 6-3. At 11-14-4, the Bruins are the only team in playoff position with a losing record on the road.

They’ve been far better in the friendly confines of TD Garden, where, at 23-8-1, they are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for the most home wins in the NHL.

They morph into one of the elite teams in the NHL, ranking seventh in goals per game at 3.50, while owning a Top 4 mark in goals against at 2.66.

In the end, it’s that ability to rise to the occasion at home is why I like Boston to win in my Capitals vs Bruins prediction.

Boston is a sparkling 11-0-1 in their last 12 at home, and haven’t lost in regulation at TD Garden since Dec 23

Capitals vs Bruins Odds

Odds as of March 6. The interactive table above will automatically update as the NHL odds move over the course of the day.

Taking Boston to win straight up pays out at -115 odds, courtesy of bet365, who also has the B’s +1.5 on the puckline at a less inviting -300.

DraftKings also has the Caps at +1.5 on the puckline, with -250 odds. The best bet for Washington would be on the moneyline, where they are getting +102 odds to win on the road.

Over bettors can head to bet365, where the total sits at 5.5 goals, while Under bettors can get another half-goal on cushion over at BetMGM.