Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings December 3rd 2024
Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Red Wings versus the Bruins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at TD Garden in Boston, MA. This Atlantic division matchup has an over/under of 5.5 goals, and the Bruins are favored by -1.5 at home vs. the Red Wings.
Detroit vs. Boston Key Information
- Teams: Red Wings at Bruins
- Where: TD Garden Boston
- Date: Tuesday, December 3rd
- Betting Odds BOS -191 | DET +161 O/U 5.5
The Red Wings Can Win If…
With a 2-1 win over the Sabres, the Red Wings improved to 10-12-3 this season. Detroit, favored by -1.5 goals, failed to cover the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.
After trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Red Wings responded with two goals in the second. Both of Detroit’s goals came from Dylan Larkin, who found the net at 12:11 and 5:22 in the second period.
Detroit’s offense was held scoreless in the first period before Dylan Larkin found the net twice in the second, bringing his season total to 6 and 7 goals. Both goals came on power plays, with Patrick Kane earning his 6th assist on the first goal, and Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond adding their 4th and 10th assists, respectively, on the second.
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The Red Wings took 23 shots on goal but were hindered by 15 giveaways. They didn’t score in the third period and didn’t record any empty-net or shorthanded goals.
Detroit’s defense gave up the first goal of the game at 11:39 in the first period, but they locked down after that, not allowing another. Cam Talbot made 31 saves with a 96.9% save percentage, while the defense added 4 takeaways and 11 hits.
- Over their last three regular season games, the Red Wings have gone 1-2 straight up. Across this span, their puck line record sits at 3-0 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
- Over their last ten regular season games, the Red Wings have gone 4-6 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 7-3 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.
The Bruins Can Win If…
With a 2-0 win over the Kraken, the Bruins moved above .500, now sitting at 12-11-3. Boston covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the 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 another at 10:03. The Bruins’ defense held strong, allowing Seattle 23 shots, all of which were stopped by Jeremy Swayman.
Boston’s offense struck early in their 2-0 win over the Kraken, 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 the 10:03 mark of the first period.
The Bruins fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period. They recorded 16 giveaways and ended the game with 4 assists.
Boston’s defense was outstanding in their last game, leading to a 2-0 win over the Kraken. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a 100% save percentage. The Bruins’ defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 15 hits.
- Boston will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 2-1 over their past three games. In addition, their puck line record over this stretch is 2-1 while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
- Boston has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 2-8, while posting an over-under record of 3-6-1.
The Lean
For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Red Wings to secure a victory over the Bruins on the road. With the moneyline currently set at +161, I’m locking in my bet on the Red Wings straight-up.
Our projections have the Red Wings pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Red Wings, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.
When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 5.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.
Bruins ‘Starting to Come Together,’ Battle Red Wings Next
Boston Aiming for Consistency
Fresh off a statement 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in their Centennial Game, the Boston Bruins are looking to build on their momentum as they host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday evening. This marks the Red Wings’ first and only visit to Boston this season.
The Bruins have gone 4-2-0 since Joe Sacco stepped in as interim head coach on Nov. 20. Sunday’s win featured standout performances from Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle, who each scored twice. Captain Brad Marchand noted the team’s improvement and resilience.
“There are challenges that come with every season that you don’t always expect, and it’s on the group to find ways to get through the adversity together,” Marchand said. “I think you’re seeing now (that) our game is getting better and we’re starting to come together.”
Offensive Breakthrough
Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period against Montreal and managed to hold off a late rally. McAvoy ended an eight-game scoring drought with his third career multi-goal effort. Sacco highlighted McAvoy’s impact.
“When he plays like that, we become a hard team to play against,” Sacco said. “He was following up the play, moving his feet skating in the right direction all the time.”
David Pastrnak added his team-leading ninth goal, while Cole Koepke contributed a goal and an assist. The Bruins’ offense seems to be finding its rhythm, though their power play remains a concern, converting at a league-worst 11.7 percent.
Detroit Adjusting to Injuries
The Red Wings enter the matchup having earned points in three of their last four games (2-1-1). However, they are dealing with key absences. Goaltender Cam Talbot left Sunday’s 5-4 overtime loss to Vancouver with a lower-body injury and has been ruled out for Tuesday. Detroit recalled 2021 first-round pick Sebastian Cossa from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on emergency conditions.
Ville Husso, who stepped in for Talbot on Sunday, made 15 saves and will likely start against the Bruins.
“You never want to see that, but (it’s) next man up,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said. “Huss came in and did a great job for us, got us a point.”
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Forward Patrick Kane is also expected to miss his fifth consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury.
Special Teams in Focus
Detroit’s penalty kill has struggled recently, going 6-for-12 over the last three games. Conversely, Boston has failed to score a power-play goal in four consecutive outings, despite their offensive surge.
Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde acknowledged his team’s inconsistencies but emphasized their potential.
“We have to stay on it and keep trying to round out our game because you can see flashes of it,” Lalonde said.
Players to Watch
- Brad Marchand (Bruins): Scored the game-winning goal in the previous meeting against Detroit on Nov. 23.
- Lucas Raymond (Red Wings): The lone goal-scorer for Detroit in that game. He has tallied five goals and four assists in his last seven games, including a five-game goal streak before Sunday.
Outlook
With both teams looking to refine their game, Tuesday’s matchup promises to be a competitive tilt. The Bruins will aim to extend their momentum at home, while the Red Wings seek to overcome injuries and improve their special teams.