Free NHL Picks Today: Ottawa Senators vs Boston Bruins 12/27/22

The Ottawa Senators (14-16-3), one of the league’s top power play offenses, host the Boston Bruins (27-4-2) and their stifling penalty killing defense at Canadian Tire Centre on Tuesday. Boston is coming off a 4-3 win over the Devils on Friday, their fourth consecutive win.

The Bruins committed only two penalties in the game, yet still conceded a power play goal. David Pastrnak led the Bruins with two goals. Linus Ullmark had a great performance with 37 saves (.925%) in the win.

Ottawa dropped their third in a row, falling 3-2 (OT) to the Capitals on Thursday. Drake Batherson and Alex DeBrincat both scored once for the Senators. Cam Talbot saved 37 of 40 shots (.925%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Senators won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 7-5 victory in October. Batherson, Brady Tkachuk, and Tim Stuetzle each had three points (1G 2A) to lead Ottawa.

Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron each had three points (1G 2A) to lead Boston. Anton Forsberg got the win despite allowing five goals on 34 shots (.852%).

FACING OFF

Boston is averaging 3.88 goals per game for the season, second in the NHL, and they are taking on a Senators team that is allowing 3.21 goals a game (17th).

Meanwhile, Ottawa has found the net 3.03 times a game on average, 23rd in the league, and the Bruins are holding opponents to a league-best 2.18 goals per game.

Boston averages more shots a game (34.5) than most teams in the league, ranking third, while the team’s 11.4% shooting percentage is fifth. Ottawa’s average of 33.2 attempts ranks seventh.

Power play opportunities are likely to be plentiful for the Bruins, as the Senators have been penalized 4.61 times a game, fifth-most in the NHL, for an average of 10.82 minutes (seventh-highest). The visitors are averaging 4.42 penalties (eighth) and 10.45 penalty minutes a game (9th).

The Bruins’ 29.27% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while Ottawa’s 28.12% conversion rate ranks fourth. Boston has been equally impressive at penalty killing, boasting the league’s third-highest PK% at 84.68%. Ottawa ranks eighth at 80.83%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 47 points this season, seventh-most in the NHL, Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 24 goals (4th) and has added 23 assists. In the net, Ullmark (18-1-1) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average.

He has a 1.89 GAA, best in the league, and a .937% save percentage, also best. Tkachuk leads the Senators in scoring with 37 points. He has 13 goals and 24 assists in 33 games. Talbot (8-8-1) has the best goals against average for Ottawa at 2.71. He has a save percentage of .911%.