As the NHL pre-season draws to a close, the duel between the Boston Bruins (2-2-1) and the Los Angeles Kings (3-0-1) on Thursday, October 3, 2024, is proving to be one of the highly entertaining matches. This game is set for 7:00 PM ET at the Videotron Centre and will be broadcast on ESPN+. This game promises intense hockey action. It is a common fact that both teams wish to win their last preparations before the bulk of the regular season in order to boost confidence within the team. The fans and the bettors consider this game because it serves as a gauge for free NHL predictions since both teams will use this moment to test the performance of their strategies and the roster composition.
Boston Bruins vs. Los Angeles Kings 10/3/24 Game Info
| When: | Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Videotron Centre |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Boston Bruins (2-2-1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3-0-1)
The Boston Bruins have not been performing badly, but they have shown specific aspects that have raised some eyebrows. The team’s attacking fluidity, which is spearheaded by right-side forward David Pastrnak, who had 47 goals and 63 assists last season, has to be sharp against the Kings’ solid defense. It is mainly for this reason that Pastrnak’s shooting and assisting skills may come in very handy, especially in view of the fact that the Bruins have recently had it rough with a few losses against the likes of Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. Offensive production will need to be a balanced in all aspects, with Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha standing in the way that would attack the Kings’ traps.
On the contrary, the Los Angeles Kings head into this game on the back of a better pre-season performance, especially in attack. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala have stood above the rest, as Kempe had 75 points last season, and Fiala was not so far behind. The Kings forwards have shown that they can cut through the defensive lines, as seen from their recent professional matches against the Anaheim Ducks and the Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings will look to take advantage of any chances given to them by the defense of the Bruins, who have looked shaky in their last few games, particularly in transition.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman vs. Goaltender Cam Talbot
As the Bruins’ goaltender, Jeremy Swayman has a task that is of extreme relevance. Having a save percentage of 0.916 from the last season while dealing with 28 shots per game on average, Swayman’s contribution could be central for Bruins continued success. Stopping bulk of the shots taken by the Kings’ forwards, Kempe and Fiala in particular will be very important.
Cam Talbot for the Kings was equally good in maintaining the goal and had a 0.913 save percentage last season despite a lot more shots coming at him. Factors such as Talbot’s shot-stopping ability in heavy traffic will become imperative as he comes up against Bruins’ team looking to improve their record during pre-season. It is likely that the performance of these two goalkeepers will determine the outcome of the game because of the intense competition that both teams will be in, and thus call for impressive displays in order to give their teams the upper edge.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds and lines for this matchup are yet to be determined, reflecting the unpredictable nature of pre-season games. Bettors should keep an eye on updates as game day approaches, considering both teams’ performance trends and key player matchups.
Boston Bruins Betting Trends
The Bruins have shown a tendency to struggle in their recent games, being 1-4 in their last 5 outings. However, their betting against the spread (ATS) in road games shows a balanced record of 20-21. The totals have gone OVER in 2 of their last 5 games, suggesting that while their defense has lapses, their games tend to be high-scoring.
Los Angeles Kings Betting Trends
The Kings, while performing well in straight wins, have a contrasting trend against the spread, going 1-4 in their last 5 games. This indicates that while they are winning, they are not covering the spread, which could be a critical insight for bettors considering the puckline bets.
Boston Bruins vs. Los Angeles Kings 10/3/24 Betting Picks
In light of all the factors and past records, it seems the Kings may be expected to win, especially with their powerful offense. Still, there is no reason to overlook the Bruins if they can count on their best players. In terms of prop bets, it may be worth taking a look at such individual statistics as goals and assists performed by Pastrnak and Kempe. The over-under will largely depend on how the goaltenders are faring on that particular game day. Watch out for these top premium picks and try to take advantage of how the odds continue to change in order to enhance your betting fortunes.