Boston Bruins vs St. Louis Blues Picks and Predictions November 16th 2024

Bruins open homestand vs. Blues, look for consistency

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Blues and Bruins. The game is starting at 1:00 ET on NHLN, and it’s hosted by the Bruins at TD Garden in Boston, MA. Get ready to place your bets! This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 5.5 goals, and the Bruins are favored by -1.5 against the Blues.

St. Louis vs. Boston Key Information

• Teams: Blues at Bruins
• Where: TD Garden Boston
• Date: Saturday, November 16th
• Betting Odds BOS -211 | STL +176 O/U 5.5

The Blues Can Win If…

With a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs, the Blues improved to 7-10-1 this season. St. Louis covered the puck line as underdogs, and the total was set at 6 goals, resulting in a push.

After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Blues responded with four unanswered goals. Three different players contributed to the scoring, and Pavel Buchnevich’s goal at 19:21 in the third period sealed the victory.

Colton Parayko led the way for the Blues with two goals, including his second and third of the season. He also added his fifth assist on Pavel Buchnevich’s fourth goal, which came on an empty net with 39 seconds left in the game. Jordan Kyrou contributed with his third goal of the season, which was unassisted.

After a scoreless first period, the Blues netted three goals in the second, with Parayko’s first coming at 16:31. St. Louis took 24 shots on goal and had 14 giveaways in the game.

Defensively, the Blues will look to build on their last performance, where they allowed just two goals to the Maple Leafs. Jordan Binnington recorded 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage. The defense also contributed 3 takeaways and 17 hits. The first goal they allowed came 5:25 into the first period, and the second came at the 6:08 mark of the third.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Blues have gone 0-3 straight up. They have held up well vs the puck line in these matchups, going 2-1 as well as an over-under record of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, St. Louis has a record of 3-7. Their record vs the puck line sits at 6-4 in these matchups, while posting a 4-3-3 over-under mark.

The Bruins Can Win If…

With a 2-0 win over the Kraken, the Bruins moved to 8-8-2 this season. Boston, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The pre-game total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 2 fell well short of that mark.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period, with Justin Brazeau scoring at 16:37 and Charlie Coyle adding a power-play goal at 10:03. The Bruins’ defense held Seattle scoreless, as Jeremy Swayman stopped all 23 shots he faced.

Boston’s offense got off to a quick start in their 2-0 win over Seattle, with Justin Brazeau netting his 5th goal of the season just 3:23 into the game. Charlie Coyle followed up with his 2nd goal, which came on a power play at 10:03 in the first period. The Bruins fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period.

Boston recorded 16 giveaways and had 4 assists on their two goals. Brad Marchand picked up his 7th assist of the season, while Elias Lindholm added his 6th. Nikita Zadorov also contributed with his 5th assist, and Charlie McAvoy earned his 3rd.

Defensively, the Bruins were rock solid, allowing 0 goals and 23 shots on goal from the Kraken. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves, posting a 100% save percentage. The Bruins’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways, 15 hits, and 27 blocks.

• Across Boston’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Against the spread, Boston went 0-3 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across Boston’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. In these contests, the team went just 3-7 against the spread, while going 4-6 on the over-under.

The Lean

For those seeking a straight moneyline bet, the Bruins are the top choice. Nonetheless, with a payout of -211, you might want to use this bet as a part of a parlay to get better odds.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Blues to cover. Even in the event of a Bruins victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Blues should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Daily NHL Picks

Bruins Open Homestand vs. Blues: A Battle for Consistency

Four days after a thrilling comeback victory over the St. Louis Blues, the Boston Bruins are set to host a three-game homestand, starting Saturday with a rematch against the Blues. Both teams find themselves at a crossroads in their seasons, struggling with inconsistency and searching for stability.

Bruins’ Challenges with Momentum

The Bruins’ dramatic 3-2 win in St. Louis on Tuesday showcased their resilience, but they couldn’t maintain that momentum. Two nights later, they suffered a crushing 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars, exposing familiar issues.

“Just got embarrassed,” admitted defenseman Nikita Zadorov. “We did a lot of good stuff in St. Louis, but our effort wasn’t there (against Dallas). We were not hard to play against.”

This inconsistency has plagued the Bruins all season. Despite a promising 4-1-1 run prior to the Dallas loss, the team has managed to win consecutive games only twice, and only once in regulation. Coach Jim Montgomery expressed his frustration:

“It’s been frustrating all year that we haven’t been able to string three or four consistent games together where our habits and details are there.”

Even star forward David Pastrnak, who broke a seven-game scoring drought with goals in the past two games, exemplifies this inconsistency. While Pastrnak leads the team with eight goals this season, the Bruins need broader contributions to solidify their game.

Opportunities at TD Garden

The Bruins have a golden opportunity to reset and build momentum, with seven of their next nine games at TD Garden. The team is eager to turn home ice into an advantage.

“We’re going to make sure this is a building block for us, not a setback,” said goaltender Jeremy Swayman. “That’s on us to do that.”

Saturday’s matchup provides a chance for Boston to establish its identity as a tough, consistent team.

Blues’ Struggles to Close Games

The St. Louis Blues enter the game on a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) but showed signs of life in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Despite holding a 3-2 lead after two periods, the Blues once again faltered late, a recurring theme during their skid.

“I think any point right now is a good point,” said forward Brandon Saad, who scored twice against Buffalo to double his season total. “But obviously, we want to close out games.”

Saad’s recent promotion to the second line alongside Dylan Holloway and Brayden Schenn has been a bright spot. However, the Blues have been outscored 11-1 in the third period over their past four games, making it clear where improvements are needed.

Coach Drew Bannister acknowledged the team’s better effort against Buffalo but stressed the importance of capitalizing on opportunities:

“We had chances, hit the post a couple of times. But we’ve got to bear down because there aren’t a lot of opportunities right now.”

Adding to the Blues’ challenges, defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph exited Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury and is being evaluated.

Key Players to Watch

• David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins): After breaking out of a scoring slump, Pastrnak remains the Bruins’ primary offensive weapon. His ability to maintain form will be critical.
• Charlie Coyle (Boston Bruins): Scored against Dallas after a four-game drought. Can he build on this performance?
• Brandon Saad (St. Louis Blues): With four goals this season, Saad’s improved play offers a glimmer of hope for the Blues’ offense.
• Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues): The goaltender must step up to anchor a defense that has struggled mightily in third periods.

What’s at Stake?

Both teams need a response to recent setbacks. For Boston, the focus is on leveraging home ice and avoiding further inconsistency. For St. Louis, the goal is to close out games and regain confidence in the third period.

This matchup is more than just two points in the standings—it’s an opportunity for both teams to address fundamental flaws and set a tone for the weeks ahead.

Final Thoughts

Saturday’s game at TD Garden is a litmus test for two teams seeking stability. The Bruins, bolstered by a favorable schedule and star players finding form, have an edge, but they’ll need to deliver consistent effort. The Blues, meanwhile, must focus on closing games to reverse their skid.

With high stakes and plenty to prove, expect a hard-fought battle between these two determined teams.