Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction & Best Bets (Sunday, February 1st, 2026)
The Boston Bruins will be +170 underdogs when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. DraftKings has the odds for this NHL clash out early, so you can place your bets before the weekend even arrives.
Boston comes in with a +1.5 puck line (-135), while the game total is healthy, but priced at +110 to go over six total goals. The Bruins have just two fewer wins than the rival Lightning at the time of this writing, and yet they are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
Needless to say, the Bruins will be eager to close the gap, and the best way to do that is to add losses to Tampa Bay’s record. That won’t be easy, as the Lightning are solid (15-9) on their home ice and boast both an elite offense and gritty defense.
Boston is even better offensively, but a weak defense makes them a shaky bet going into this massive divisional tilt. Still, you’re looking for the best Bruins vs. Lightning picks, and I’m here to deliver them.
Let’s dive into this matchup, combing through the latest odds and best bets. I’ll highlight key matchup angles and wrap things up with my top Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning prediction.
Game Info
- Matchup: Boston Bruins (32-20-3) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (34-14-4)
- Date & Time: Sunday, February 1st, 2026, at 5:30 pm (6:30 pm ET)
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL
- How to Watch:ESPN
Betting Odds
Take a look at the latest Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning odds, courtesy of FanDuel:
| Team | Puck Line | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Bruins | +1.5 (-142) | +176 | Over 5.5 (-128) |
Lightning | -1.5 (+116) | -215 | Under 5.5 (+104) |
Recent Form & Context
To get a better idea as to what to expect out of this matchup, let’s quickly break down how these teams have fared to this point.
Boston Bruins
- Boston is very good offensively, ranking 8th in scoring (3.35 goals per game).
- The Bruins are exceptional in power play, racking up 42 goals (4th).
- The Bruins do not have an elite defense, as they rank 18th with 3.09 goals allowed per contest.
- Boston does have a strong save rate (11th) despite allowing the 3rd most shots on goal.
Injuries
- C Pavel Zacha left Thursday’s game with an injury and is listed as day-to-day.
- C Elias Lindholm is also on the injury report and is questionable for Sunday.
Tampa Bay Lightning
- Tampa Bay has one of the best offenses in all of hockey, ranking 2nd with 3.46 goals per game.
- The Lightning are solid in power play with 34 goals (13th).
- Tampa Bay is exceptional defensively in power play, ranking 2nd with a 84.6% penalty kill rate.
- The Lightning have the 2nd-best scoring defense overall, allowing just 2.48 goals per game.
Injuries
- D Victor Hedman remains on injured reserve following surgery and will be out until February.
- C Brayden Point was placed on injured reserve on January 16th and is unlikely to play.
- D Charle-Edouard D’stous is on injured reserve and will not suit up on Sunday.
Matchup Breakdown
This is an interesting matchup, as both of these teams have elite offense. Boston and Tampa Bay are both patient offenses that pass well and know when to attack. They do not rely on absurd shot volume, but they can execute at a high level and use balanced attacks.
Tampa Bay is definitely the better offensive team, but the Bruins are superior when they have numbers on their side. The counter would be the Lightning’s defense, as their overall defense is elite, but they are especially very good at containing offenses when they are at the disadvantage in power play.
With the Lightning having the leg up defensively and perhaps in power play, it’s hard to bet against them.
These two sides faced off once already this year, with Tampa Bay stealing a 4-3 win in Boston. A similar result would not be shocking at all, but it’s worth noting that these teams split the season series (2-2) last year.
Playing Styles & Trends
- Boston: The Bruins rely on puck movement and structured set plays on offense, but they do most of their damage in power play. This is a patient offense that is less about volume and more about efficiency.
- Tampa Bay: The Lightning are similar in that they are incredibly balanced, share the wealth, and take their time to find ideal scoring scenarios. They’re also solid when they have the numbers, but they lean on puck possession and creativity, which allows them to be a bit more effective in 5v5 settings.
- Special Teams: Boston is more explosive in power play, while Tampa Bay can definitely compete in that regard. However, the Lightning are very good at stopping teams when they are at a numbers disadvantage, which gives them the edge in this matchup.
- Defense: Boston is not strong defensively, as they have given up 171 goals on the year. Tampa Bay has allowed just 131 goals and as noted, doesn’t lose a step in power-play situations.
Betting Market Notes
- Puck Line (1.5: -142/+116): Boston is favored to keep this game tight. You can get plus money by betting on the Lightning to cover at home, but this one is likely staying close. Both offenses are quite strong, and the last game was a 4-3 shootout.
- Moneyline (+176/-215): Boston offers serious value as a road dog, but they’re also just 11-12-2 on the road. The value speaks for itself, but there is a reason the Lightning are big -205 favorites.
- Total (6.5: -128/+104): The offensive firepower is legit from both sides, so a 6.5 game total makes a lot of sense. The most recent meeting hit the Over, and we can get that at plus money. Tampa Bay’s overall defense and ability to counter quality power play offense does complicate matters, of course.
Props & Alternative Markets
- Anytime Goal Scorer: There are no odds out yet for this prop, but there are several ways to go. Morgan Geekie has an absurd 30 goals on the year for the Bruins, while Tampa Bay has three guys with 20+ goals. Both of these teams score at a staggering rate, but all things considered, I’d start the bidding on the Tampa Bay side. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel make the most sense.
- First to 5 Shots on Goal: Neither of these teams are very high volume, so I think it’s more about who can get in proper positioning early. Given their offensive production and their power play dominance, I am digging the Bruins (+145) to get there first. The Lightning (-188) aren’t an appealing bet, anyways.
Best Bets for Boston vs. Tampa Bay
Check out my preferred Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning picks for tonight:
| Bet | Why Do We Like It? | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Over 5.5 (-128) | Tampa Bay’s defense is great, but the Bruins still pack a serious punch. Whether it’s their traditional offense or power play, Boston is going to find a way to score, while the Lightning are just as good. The last game had seven goals, and I think a similar result is in play. | 7/10 |
Bruins +1.5 (-142) | This is not something I’d normally target, as I prefer plus money on a puck line. But these teams play each other well, it’s a big matchup, and both teams can score. I think Boston keeps it tight, but doesn’t win, so their PL at -142 looks decent. | 7/10 |
Lightning ML (-215) | The safest bet here is Tampa Bay to win. They have a way better defense, they’re at home, and they can match wits with the Bruins on offense. The price isn’t amazing, but you can target it aggressively or toss it on a parlay. | 8/10 |
Odd lines are shifting for Bruins vs. Lightning as bettors react to defensive mismatches and power-play efficiency. Track line movement and compare betting sites at our top sportsbooks page.
Risk Factors & What Could Go Wrong
Betting on hockey can be risky, so keep the following things in mind when placing these Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning bets:
- Elite Defense: Tampa Bay has one of the best scoring defenses in the league, and they specifically can negate what the Bruins do well. It’s entirely possible they limit their power play success, and this game is lower scoring than expected.
- Blowout: I have Boston’s puck line here, but it’s always possible they just get housed by a stronger defensive team on the road.
- Upset Special: This is a pretty huge game for Boston, and they’ve been solid on the road. They could march in here and fully upset Tampa Bay. If they do it in a low-scoring game, only two of these Bruins vs. Lightning bets would end up delivering.
Bruins vs. Lightning Prediction
My main Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning prediction is that we get a tight battle that tilts toward the home team. Tampa Bay has been the cream of the crop in the Atlantic Division all year, as they offer both elite offense and stellar defense.
That is a mismatch for the Bruins, who are not scary on defense whatsoever. Even worse, the Bruins lean hard on doing damage in power play, and the Lightning are very good at battling back in those spots on defense.
Both teams will still put the puck in the net a few times, though, so the Bruins are still an upset threat. I think they keep it close enough to bet on their PL with confidence, while the offensive upside from both teams puts the Over in play.
Ultimately, the best Bruins vs. Lightning pick is to simply back Tampa Bay. If you’re not in love with the -205 moneyline, though, you can target the other two bets for superior pricing.
Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Boston Bruins 3
