The Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals will start the 2022-23 campaign with some key members of the team missing due to injury. Both of these teams will need depth players to step up if they want to keep up in the standings early on.
Will this game come down to which goalie plays better with so many stars not playing? If so, which team has the edge in the blue paint?
Find out in our free NHL betting picks and predictions for Bruins vs. Capitals on October 12.
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Bruins vs Capitals best odds
Bruins vs Capitals picks and predictions
The Bruins and Capitals are two teams that have a lot in common. They have both been Stanley Cup contenders for the last 10+ years, but it seems as though their respective windows are starting to close rather than open. In fact, since their Stanley Cup championship back in 2018, Washington has struggled to go on a deep playoff run.
The Caps are starting this season extremely shorthanded in regard to their forward depth. They will be without Nicklas Backstrom, Carl Hagelin, and Tom Wilson at the beginning of the season, and they also might be missing T.J. Oshie for this game. Those are four pretty key contributors to the Caps' offense, so it will be interesting to see which players step up.
The Bruins have been Stanley Cup contenders for the past decade, but they also haven’t been able to get over the hump since 2011. Similar to the Caps, they will be missing some absolute studs in Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, and maybe even Taylor Hall in this game.
Putting injuries aside, the Bruins had their way with the Capitals last season, winning two out of three contests and outscoring the Capitals by a combined 13-10. Boston had very strong goaltending last season between its tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark, but the Capitals will be starting Darcy Kuemper for the very first time. As most people know, Kuemper won the Stanley Cup last season with the Colorado Avalanche, but sometimes being on a new team brings new nerves.
The Bruins also have a little extra motivation in their locker room with their new head coach, Jim Montgomery. I really love the value on the Bruins in this game. Even though they’re missing key defensemen, they still have plenty of talent up front, plus boast some strong goaltending.
Take the B’s to pull off the upset on the road.
My best bet: Bruins moneyline (+120 at DraftKings)
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Bruins vs Capitals moneyline analysis
The Boston Bruins were a team that was considered road warriors last season, finishing 25-13-3 away from TD Garden. Being on the road doesn’t affect them as it might for other teams.
This trend also directly correlates with goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Last season, Swayman skated to a 13-6-2 record on the road with a 2.08 GAA and a .926 SV%. Interestingly enough, the Capitals were not very strong on home ice last season, as they had a 19-16-6 record at Capital One Arena. There is way more pressure on Washington in this game than there is on Boston since the home fans will be extremely excited for the season opener.
Even though Boston is missing a few D-men, the Capitals' offense might see some significant struggle with so many forwards sidelined. I trust Boston way more than I do Washington, and that is why I like them to take this one.
Bruins vs Capitals Over/Under analysis
In the three meetings last season between these two teams, the Over went 2-0-1 during the regular season. However, in those games, there weren’t as many key players missing as there will be in this one. Right now, the O/U is set at a very high 6.5, with two capable goaltenders playing on either side.
Kuemper finished last season with a 2.54 GAA, and Swayman had a 2.41 GAA of his own. This might not be a goaltending battle to write home about, but that doesn’t mean that they are weak by any means. Both teams averaged about three goals per game last year, but that was when they were pretty healthy.
I hate to harp on these injuries so much, but the guys that are missing add so much to the offensive production for both teams. I think setting this total at 6.5 is simply just too high, so I am going to ride with the Under.
Bruins vs Capitals betting trend to know
The Bruins are 6-1 in the last seven meetings between the two teams. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs Capitals.
Bruins vs Capitals game info
| Location: | Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. |
| Date: | Wednesday, October 12, 2022 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: |
TNT |
