The Arizona Coyotes (7-13-4) will be out to snap their losing run when they host the Boston Bruins (21-3-1) at Mullett Arena on Friday. Boston is coming off a 4-0 win over the Avalanche on Wednesday. The Bruins committed five penalties in the game, though they held Colorado without a power play goal. Taylor Hall led the Bruins with two goals.
Linus Ullmark recorded his first shutout of the season with an impressive 23 saves. Arizona dropped their sixth in a row, falling 8-2 to the Oilers on Wednesday. Shayne Gostisbehere and Jack McBain each scored once for the Coyotes. Christian Fischer had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Connor Ingram only had 27 saves on 35 shots against (.771%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-3 victory in October, their 19th straight win against Arizona. A.J. Greer led Boston with three points (2G 1A). Clayton Keller, Gostisbehere, and Josh Brown were on the scoresheet for Arizona. Jeremy Swayman got the win despite saving only 21 of 24 shots (.875%).
FACING OFF
Boston is averaging 3.96 goals per game for the season, second in the NHL, and they are taking on a Coyotes team that is allowing 3.62 goals a game (26th). Meanwhile, Arizona has found the net 2.62 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Bruins’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to a league-best 2.08 goals per game.
Boston averages more shots a game (34.8) than most teams in the league, ranking fourth, while the team’s 11.5% shooting percentage is fifth. Arizona’s average of 23.6 attempts ranks 32nd. Expect a few power play opportunities for the Bruins, as the Coyotes have been penalized 5.46 times a game, most in the NHL, for an average of 12.67 minutes (second-highest).
The visitors are averaging 4.56 penalties (eighth) and 11.04 penalty minutes a game (10th).The Bruins’ 28.42% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Coyotes rank 20th with a conversion rate of 21.52%. Boston has been equally strong at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 85.26%. Arizona ranks 20th at 75.96%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 36 points this season, fifth-most in the NHL, David Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 18 goals (4th) and has added 18 assists. In the net, Ullmark (14-1-0) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 1.93 GAA, best in the league, and a .936% save percentage, also best. Keller leads the Coyotes in scoring with 22 points. He has seven goals and 15 assists in 24 games. Karel Vejmelka (6-7-3) is the top goalie for Arizona with a goals against average of 3.03. He has a save percentage of .912%.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 7-3-0 on the road this season. Arizona is 1-2-1 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Boston Bruins -1.5 (-125)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
