🏒 Lightning vs. Bruins Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (April 11)

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will play for the fourth and final time this season this afternoon. Both sides are eager to snap multi-game losing skids, while the Bruins are the more desperate team, hoping to hold onto their top Wild Card seed. 

The Lightning are a -120 road betting favorite. Most operators have set the total at a flat 6.0, leading up to today's early 12:30 p.m. ET puck drop at TD Garden in Boston, which will air on ABC. 

My Lightning vs. Bruins prediction includes a moneyline wager, a correct score prediction, and a player prop on Boston's Pavel Zacha. 

🏒 Lightning vs. Bruins picks & odds today: April 11

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3.0 units | Max profit: 2.8 units

💰 Lightning vs. Bruins prediction & best bet

Bruins ML (+102)

This is a good spot to buy the Bruins. Yes, they've lost four straight games, however, the Lightning are also on a three-game slump. Motivational edge goes to the Bruins to hold onto the top Wild Card seed and avoid a series sweep against their Atlantic Division foe. 

Boston has plenty of playmakers on its roster. The Bruins are coming off a 6-5 overtime loss against Carolina, flexing their offensive firepower.

Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has allowed three or more goals in two of his previous four starts, while Jeremy Swayman has held two of his past three opponents, including Tampa Bay, to two goals. 

Score prediction: Bruins 3, Lightning 2 (+1400 odds via FanDuel)

🔥 Best Lightning vs. Bruins player prop bet

Pavel Zacha Over 0.5 points (-125)

Pavel Zacha has scored 30 goals for Boston this season, while also notching 34 assists as a balanced player on the Bruins' second attack line and top powerplay unit. The former top 10 draft pick has at least one point in four of his previous five starts, including an assist during Boston's 3-1 road loss to the Lightning on April 4. 

Zacha should be able to exploit Tampa Bay's defense in 5-on-5 and powerplay possessions for at least one point. He's among Boston's top weapons and has three points, all assists, in two starts against the Lightning this year. 

Head to DraftKings to get the best price on Pavel Zacha's over 0.5 points player prop at -125 odds.  

📊 Live Lightning vs. Bruins odds

Line movement has happened in the moneyline and total markets since opening lines were released. The Bruins have moved down from +105 to +102, while the total briefly dipped to 5.5, before being bought up to 6.5. 

We're on Under 6.0, meaning we can get a push if the final score is 4-2 or 5-1. This is more preferable than laying juice on under 6.5 at -135 odds or shorter. 

The Lightning are 3-0 against the Bruins this season. Boston has more motivation to stay in the wild-card seeding, while also seeking to avoid a sweep on home ice. This likely explains why oddsmakers and the public are funneling money onto the home underdog in an early start. 

🚀 Lightning vs. Bruins same-game parlay

My Lightning vs. Bruins same-game-parlay features a home underdog, the goal total under 6.0, and Bruins' Zacha to extend his point streak to four consecutive starts. 

The urgency is on Boston, who benefits from playing on home ice against an opponent who is also on a three-game losing skid. The Lightning have not won on the road since March 21, dropping four straight.

Pavel Zacha's consistent play for Boston is the final leg of our SGP. He's being undervalued at -125 odds to log over 0.5 points, earning prime minutes on the second attack line and first powerplay unit. 

To get the best odds on these Lightning vs. Bruins SGP picks, go to DraftKings for +620 odds. 

💵 My betting record for NHL picks

All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since April 1.

💡 How I'm betting Lightning vs. Bruins

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

I'm on a popular home underdog with a lot at stake in today's Lightning vs. Bruins matchup. The last time these two Atlantic Division opponents met, the Lightning won 3-1 at home. 

Now, the Bruins have to find a way to end a four-game losing slump to avoid falling out of the Wild Card race. The Lightning have not been playing well on the road down the stretch, while they've also locked up a playoff seed.

If the Bruins are going to avoid a season sweep against the Lightning, it's likely coming from Pavel Zacha. He's lit the lamp in back-to-back starts, while notching a point in four of five previous outings, which is why I'm taking him to go over 0.5 points at -125 odds. 

📈 Lightning vs. Bruins betting trends

🚑 Lightning vs. Bruins injuries

📺 How to watch Lightning vs. Bruins

• Date: Saturday, April 11
• Puck drop: 12:30 p.m. ET
• Location: TD Garden Arena (Boston)
• TV: ABC