Nashville Predators vs Boston Bruins Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
Mikko Rantanen must have been driving the Bruins crazy Tuesday night. Boston had Dallas on the ropes twice, and Rantanen kept coming back. He scored all three goals for the Stars, including the overtime winner, and sent the Bruins home with a 3-2 loss.
Still, Boston took seven of eight possible points on that road trip. That’s a pretty good week’s work. Now the Bruins get Nashville at home, and the Predators are one of those teams that can hang around all night without finding a way to win. They’ve already been to overtime three times this season. That’s a lot of extra hockey for a team that’s only played eight games.
Nashville visits TD Garden in Boston on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET on NESN and SCRIPPS. The moneyline and total weren’t consistently available when this preview was prepared, so check the current numbers before betting. You can find more predictions in our free NHL picks.
Nashville Predators Keep Leaving Points On The Table
Nashville is 3-2-3. Three wins, three overtime losses, and a team that’s probably getting tired of hearing how close it was to winning. The Predators have been competitive, but there’s a difference between hanging around and actually getting two points. They’ve had chances to put games away and haven’t always done it. Now they have to deal with a Boston team that’s been playing some of the better hockey in the league.
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Nashville needs to spend more time in the offensive zone. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But the Predators have had stretches where they’re chasing the puck, dumping it out, and changing lines without creating much of anything. That’s not going to work against Boston. The Bruins can make a game pretty miserable when they’re protecting a lead. Nashville has to get pucks toward the net and make somebody fight for rebounds. Trying to score pretty goals against a hot goalie is a good way to spend the night shaking your head.
Steven Stamkos and Filip Forsberg are still the two guys I’d worry about if I were Boston. Either one can turn a harmless-looking shift into a goal. Ryan O’Reilly has four goals, and Roman Josi has six points. That’s a decent group of veterans. Juuse Saros has a 2.75 goals-against average and .906 save percentage, so the goaltending hasn’t been the main problem. Nashville just needs more from the guys playing in front of him. Saros can’t score the goals himself.
Boston Bruins Have Been Worth Watching
Boston is 7-2-0, and Tuesday’s loss in Dallas wasn’t some embarrassing performance. The Bruins led twice, got goals from Matthew Poitras and James Hagens, and were a few minutes from leaving Texas with another win. Then Rantanen took over. It happens. The important thing is that Boston has been playing good hockey for more than just a game or two. Seven wins in nine games isn’t an accident.
The Bruins aren’t trying to make every game a track meet. They can score, but they’ve also been comfortable playing tight hockey and waiting for their chances. That’s where Nashville could run into trouble. If Boston gets ahead early, the Predators may have to open things up to chase the game. And once that happens, Pastrnak and the other Bruins forwards have more room to work. Boston doesn’t need 40 shots to beat you. A couple of good chances and a strong night in net can be enough.
David Pastrnak has four goals and 10 points, while JJ Peterka has given Boston another offensive option since arriving in the offseason. Hagens is contributing too, including his goal against Dallas. But Jeremy Swayman is the player who makes me comfortable backing the Bruins. He’s 6-1-0 with a 1.85 goals-against average and .934 save percentage. Those are terrific numbers. Michael DiPietro has also helped in net, but I’d prefer Swayman starting Thursday. When a goalie is playing that well, you don’t need to get fancy with the game plan.
Nashville Predators vs Boston Bruins Picks and Predictions
Boston Bruins Moneyline
Give me Boston. Nashville can be a pain to play against, and Saros is good enough to keep the Predators close. But the Bruins have been the more dependable team, and they’re coming home after a strong road trip. I like Boston’s scoring options, and I like the way the Bruins have been handling tight games. The one thing I’d watch is the price. There’s a difference between backing Boston at a reasonable number and paying too much for a team that’s already won seven of nine. Assuming the market isn’t asking for something silly, I’m on the Bruins.
Under 6.5 Goals
I’ll go under 6.5 if that’s the posted total. Nashville has some dangerous shooters, but I don’t expect the Predators to get a lot of clean looks against Boston. The Bruins can play a patient game, and Swayman has been excellent. Saros should give Nashville a chance at the other end. The biggest danger is an early goal that forces somebody to open things up. But I think both teams will be fairly careful, especially with Nashville trying to avoid another game where it falls behind and spends the night chasing. Boston 3, Nashville 2.
Final Picks: Boston Bruins Moneyline and Under 6.5 Goals (pending line confirmation)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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