Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning Picks and Predictions March 15th 2025

Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning March 15th 2025

The Lightning and Bruins are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bruins will host the game at TD Garden in Boston, MA. The Lightning are favored by -1.5 in this Atlantic division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

Bettors eyeing Saturday’s NHL slate will find intriguing value in our expert NHL Picks Today, especially considering the Bruins’ success in prior meetings with the Lightning.

Tampa Bay vs. Boston Key Information

• Teams: Lightning at Bruins
• Where: TD Garden Boston
• Date: Saturday, March 15th
• Betting Odds TB -174 | BOS +146 O/U 5.5

The Lightning Can Win If…

The Lightning dropped to 37-24-5 after a 7-4 road loss to the Jets. Tampa Bay was the underdog on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals. The combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark.

Tampa Bay led 2-0 early on, but Winnipeg responded with seven of the next nine goals. Four different Lightning players found the net in the game.

Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning with his 7th goal of the season, followed by Brayden Point’s 8th, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov netted his 10th in the third period.

Tampa Bay took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. The Lightning finished with 4 assists in the game.

Tampa Bay’s defense struggled late, giving up three goals in the third period, including two empty-netters. The Lightning also allowed two goals in the second period, after leading 2-1 at the end of the first. Jonas Johansson finished with 27 saves and an 84.4% save percentage.

• The Lightning have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 0-3, in addition to an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across Tampa Bay’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 6-4. This includes going 6-4 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Bruins Can Win If…

With a 2-0 win over the Kraken, the Bruins moved above .500, now sitting at 30-29-8. Boston covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 2 fell well short.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period, with Justin Brazeau scoring at 3:23 and Charlie Coyle adding a power-play goal at 9:57. The Bruins’ defense held Seattle scoreless, with Jeremy Swayman stopping all 23 shots he faced.

Boston took 33 shots on goal against Seattle, but only found the net twice. Justin Brazeau scored his 5th goal of the season, while Charlie Coyle added his 2nd, which came on a power play.

Both of the Bruins’ goals came in the first period, with Brazeau scoring 3:23 into the game and Coyle following up at 10:03. Boston had 16 giveaways in the game.

On defense, Boston will look to build on their previous performance, where they shut out the Kraken 2-0. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a 100% save percentage, while the Bruins’ defense added 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. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 2-1. Their over-under record in these games was 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Bruins have gone 3-7 straight up. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 7-3 and an over-under mark of 3-7.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a straight moneyline bet, then the Lightning are the way to go. However, with a payout of -174, you might consider using this bet as a leg of a parlay.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Bruins to cover. Even if the Lightning manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Bruins 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.

Bruins Look to Rebound Against Struggling Lightning

The Boston Bruins (70 points) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (75 points) on Saturday night, with both teams aiming to rebound after recent setbacks. The Bruins suffered a deflating 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators Thursday, snapping their brief two-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has struggled recently, entering this matchup winless in their last three contests (0-2-1).

Bruins Searching for Consistency Down the Stretch

Thursday’s loss marked a disappointing setback for a Bruins team fighting for playoff positioning in a tightly contested Eastern Conference. Boston’s inconsistent form resurfaced dramatically against Ottawa, allowing four goals in the first period alone. Despite a strong response in the final two periods, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Positively, Boston’s trade-deadline additions have integrated quickly, with newcomers Casey Mittlestadt and Marat Khusnutdinov each tallying their first goals with the Bruins. Superstar forward David Pastrnak continued his impressive form, netting his 34th goal of the season and recording points in 22 of his last 23 games. Pastrnak’s consistency will be crucial against a Tampa team seeking to regain form.

Defenseman Mason Lohrei emphasized the Bruins’ need for stronger starts and sharper execution from puck drop. Boston remains confident in its ability to rise to the occasion against top opponents, especially considering their success against the Lightning this season. The Bruins have taken two of three meetings thus far, outscoring Tampa Bay 10-2 in those victories.

Lightning Seeking Offensive Spark

Tampa Bay is experiencing rare offensive struggles, having scored just seven goals during their current three-game skid. A 4-3 shootout defeat against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday further highlighted Tampa’s struggles, as they failed to surpass 26 shots on goal for the fourth consecutive game. Special teams have also become a concern, with the Lightning going a modest 2-for-9 on the power play in their past four games combined.

Cam Atkinson provided some positive news Thursday, netting a crucial goal against the Flyers that helped secure at least one point for the Lightning. Atkinson’s return has provided emotional and on-ice leadership, adding another reliable offensive threat alongside stars Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. However, despite Atkinson’s goal and Tampa’s ability to salvage a point, their overall performance fell short of coach Jon Cooper’s expectations.

Brayden Point, Tampa Bay’s leading scorer this season, emphasized the need for the team to generate more consistent pressure and capitalize on high-quality scoring chances. During their current three-game slide, Tampa Bay has failed to exceed 26 shots on goal in any game—a concerning trend as they head into hostile territory against Boston.

Crucial Goaltending Battle

Boston’s Jeremy Swayman and Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy figure prominently in Saturday’s outcome. Swayman has performed well against Tampa this season, particularly in Boston’s decisive victories, including a shutout in Tampa earlier this season. His steady presence in net gives Boston confidence, especially after Igor Shesterkin recently limited Columbus offensively on Thursday.

Conversely, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy has remained steady overall, but the team’s recent defensive lapses have put extra pressure on him. Vasilevskiy, however, is historically strong in bounce-back situations and will be a critical factor if the Lightning hope to end their current skid. Bettors evaluating totals and puck lines should consider the high likelihood of tight-checking, playoff-style hockey, with goaltending potentially deciding the outcome.

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Expert Prediction and Betting Insight

Saturday’s showdown between the Bruins and Lightning will hinge significantly on Boston’s ability to start quickly and maintain intensity for a full 60 minutes. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, must rediscover its offensive rhythm to keep pace and avoid falling further in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.

Given Boston’s urgency and recent home performances against Tampa Bay, the Bruins present strong betting value as slight favorites. However, Tampa Bay’s talent and desperation make them a viable underdog option, particularly with attractive odds for bettors seeking value.

For a deeper betting breakdown and expert advice on where the smart money lies in this crucial matchup, don’t miss our carefully analyzed NHL Picks Today.