Analysis of Avalanche vs Bruins Matchup: Prediction, Odds, and Trends for Saturday Afternoon Hockey Game

• The Colorado Avalanche visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon in a cross-conference NHL matchup
• I’ve got your Avalanche vs Bruins prediction and best bets for Saturday, January 25, 2025
• Check out the Avalanche vs Bruins odds, picks, and betting preview for this matinee showdown

The Colorado Avalanche (28-19-2) travel east to face the Boston Bruins (24-20-6) on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at TD Garden. The puck drops at 1:00 PM EST in this afternoon affair, with the game broadcast on NHL Network, NESN and ALT.

Colorado enters as -134 road favorites in the Avalanche vs Bruins odds, with the total set at 5.5 goals shaded to the over. Despite trading away star winger Mikko Rantanen, can the Avs get back on track against the slumping B’s?

Keep reading for my Avalanche vs Bruins prediction and betting pick.

Avalanche vs Bruins Prediction

I’m siding with the Avalanche on the moneyline in this interconference clash. At first glance, Colorado’s blockbuster trade of Mikko Rantanen may look like a major blow, but I believe they still have enough firepower to handle the Bruins.

Even without Rantanen’s 25 goals and 64 points, the Avs still boast elite talents like Nathan MacKinnon (75 points in 49 games) and Cale Makar. MacKinnon, in particular, should relish the opportunity to take on an even bigger role, and I expect him to shoulder the offensive load.

The advanced stats also paint a positive picture for Colorado. Since January 1st, the Avs have controlled the run of play at 5v5 with a 54.79% share of shot attempts (Corsi) and 51.88% of scoring chances. They’ve also received solid goaltending from Blackwood (.925 SV%) to go along with their puck possession edge.

In contrast, Boston has struggled mightily in those same metrics over that span. The Bruins have been underwater in both Corsi (45.56%) and scoring chances (45.54%), relying heavily on Pastrnak (56 points) to generate offense.

Special teams could also play a major role in this one. The Avalanche power play (20.4%) has a distinct advantage over Boston’s 30th-ranked unit, clicking at just 13.4%. With playmakers like MacKinnon and Makar, look for Colorado to expose that weak penalty kill.

Another strong signal toward the Avs is the line move. Colorado opened around -120 but has been steamed all the way up to -150 at Pinnacle, a sharp offshore book. That type of move indicates the professional bettors are confident laying the road chalk.

Add it all up, and I have to back the more talented Avalanche squad here. Despite the noise around the Rantenen trade, I still believe they’re the right side in this matchup. Lay the reasonable moneyline price with the Avs as short road favorites.

Avalanche vs Bruins Pick:

• Avalanche Moneyline (-134 at FanDuel)

Avalanche vs Bruins Odds

The Avalanche are -134 moneyline favorites, meaning you’d need to risk $134 to win $100 on a Colorado victory. Boston comes back at +112 – a $100 bet would return $112 if the Bruins spring the upset.

If you like Colorado to win decisively, the -1.5 puck line (+184) offers some upside. However, considering the Bruins’ strong home record (15-7-3), I’d be cautious about laying that many goals. Buying some insurance with Boston +1.5 (-230) isn’t the worst idea.

This total of 5.5 feels about right considering the talent on the ice. Both teams boast some elite offensive weapons but have struggled to convert at times. The over is juiced to -124, so if you’re banking on a track meet, you’ll have to pay a little extra vig. Personally, I’d lean toward a 4-3 or 3-2 type game that barely clears the total.

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of January 25, 2025. Check out the top NHL betting apps for Avs vs Bruins.

Avalanche vs Bruins Betting Trends

While the Avalanche have been road warriors, the Bruins are always tough to beat on home ice. Here are some notable NHL betting trends and nuggets to consider for this Avalanche vs Bruins prediction:

• Colorado are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference conference
• The Avalanche are just 1-5 in their last 6 meetings with Boston
• Boston is 15-7-3 at TD Garden this season
• The Bruins are 4-8 in their last 12 overall
• The over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings in Boston

It’s hard to quantify the impact of Colorado trading a player of Rantanen’s caliber on the day before the game. In the short term, it could go one of two ways – the Avs rally around the adversity or come out flat. Knowing their leadership core, though, my money is on the former.

At the end of the day, I trust Colorado’s overall talent and metrics more than Boston’s right now. The Bruins are just 4-4-2 in their last 10 and have been getting consistently outplayed at 5v5. Unless Pastrnak (56 points) goes off or Swayman stands on his head, I don’t see them keeping up with MacKinnon and company.

My Avalanche vs Bruins prediction is Colorado -134 on the moneyline. I expect the Avs to control play and do just enough to grind out a critical road win. While I don’t love the price, the Avalanche are simply the stronger side in my opinion. Bet it now at FanDuel using the links above.

The Avalanche and Bruins are set to face off in what promises to be an exciting matchup on Saturday afternoon. Both teams have been playing well this season, with the Avalanche currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference and the Bruins not far behind in the Eastern Conference.

In terms of prediction, this game is shaping up to be a close one. The Avalanche have been on a hot streak lately, winning seven of their last ten games. They have a potent offense led by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who have been lighting up the scoreboard all season. On the other hand, the Bruins have been playing solid hockey as well, with their top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak leading the way.

When it comes to odds, the Avalanche are currently favored to win this game. However, the Bruins are a tough team to beat at home, so anything can happen in this matchup. Both teams have strong goaltending with Philipp Grubauer for the Avalanche and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins, so it could come down to which team can capitalize on their scoring chances.

In terms of trends, the Avalanche have been dominant on the road this season, boasting a 15-4-2 record away from home. The Bruins, on the other hand, have been solid at home with a 12-5-3 record at TD Garden. Both teams have been playing well against their respective conferences, so it will be interesting to see how they match up against each other.

Overall, this game has all the makings of a classic showdown between two of the top teams in the league. With both teams playing well and plenty of star power on display, fans can expect an exciting and competitive game on Saturday afternoon. It’s sure to be a must-watch for any hockey fan.