Bruins vs Lightning Predictions: Best Bets for 2026 NHL Stadium Series

Last Updated: 2 days ago

The run on outdoor hockey in Florida continues on Sunday, Feb. 1, when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Boston Bruins in the opening game of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series.

Nearly a month after the Florida Panthers welcomed the NHL Winter Classic to loanDepot park in Miami, the Lightning (34-14-4) and Bruins (32-20-3) will square off at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

To prepare for Sunday’s showdown, let’s dive into my Bruins vs Lightning predictions for the NHL Stadium Series.

Bruins vs Lightning Odds

All NHL odds used for these Bruins vs Lightning best bets are current as of Friday, Jan. 30, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Moneyline: Bruins (+170) vs Lightning (-205)
Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-142) vs Lightning -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+110) / Under 6.5 (-130)

Bruins vs Lightning Predictions for 2026 NHL Stadium Series

Bruins ML (+170) @ Lightning

This game features two of the hottest teams in the NHL right now. The Lightning are 16-1-1 in their last 18 games, while the Bruins own a 12-2-1 record over their previous 15 contests.

These Atlantic Division rivals have met once this season, with Tampa Bay defeating Boston 4-3 at TD Garden on Oct. 13.

While the Bolts (2.48 goals allowed per game) boast the better defensive record than the Bruins (3.09 GAA), I’m not sure that Andrei Vasilevskiy’s prowess between the pipes will necessarily hold up in an unpredictable outdoor environment.

With that in mind, I’m tempted to take the plus-money odds with the Bruins to pull off the upset.

Consider this wager with our top sportsbook promotions for 2026.

Bruins @ Lightning: Over 6.5 Goals (+110)

One of my favorite NHL bets each year is the Over in an outdoor game.

For one, goaltenders have to deal with completely different sightlines than the ones they are used to in arenas. Pucks are also likely to take a few more unpredictable bounces, as wind and imperfect ice conditions play their part.

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Since the start of 2021, 8 of 14 NHL outdoor games have featured at least seven goals. Four of the last five outdoor games have featured at least eight goals, and the New York Rangers’ 5-1 Winter Classic victory over the Florida Panthers, which went over the total of 5.5, was the only contest to fail to hit that mark.

At plus-money odds, I’m backing the Over as one of my best hockey betting picks today.

Author

John Arlia

Before joining The Game Day, John served as the National Writer for the United Soccer League, where he primarily covered the USL Championship out of the league’s headquarters in Tampa, FL. A devout soccer fan, John attended the men’s World Cups in Brazil and Russia and can’t wait for the 2026 edition to come to North America. Having also written for Sporting News Canada since getting his master’s from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU, John has acquired a diverse sporting background, but considers football, golf, and soccer his three strong suits.