The Boston Bruins (19-3-0), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, host the Colorado Avalanche (13-7-1) and their opportunistic power play offense at TD Garden on Saturday. Colorado is coming off a high-scoring 6-4 win over the Sabres on Thursday. The Avalanche committed eight penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals.
Nathan MacKinnon and J.T. Compher both scored twice for the Avalanche. Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 28 shots against (.857%) in the win.Boston beat the Lightning 3-1 on Tuesday. Taylor Hall scored twice to lead the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman saved 27 of 28 shots in the win (.964%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was a 5-1 victory for the Bruins in February. David Pastrnak (2G 1A) and Hall (0G 3A) each had three points to lead Boston. MacKinnon scored Colorado’s only goal. Swayman got the win, saving 28 of 29 shots (.965%).
FACING OFF
Colorado is averaging 3.43 goals per game for the season, ninth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Bruins team that is allowing just 2.18 goals a game (1st). Meanwhile, Boston has found the net 3.95 times a game on average, first in the league, and the Avalanche are allowing opponents to score 2.67 goals per game (6th).
The Avalanche’s 33.77% power play percentage is the best in the league, while Boston’s 30.12% conversion rate ranks second. Boston has been equally adept at penalty killing, boasting the league’s second-highest PK% at 83.53%. Colorado ranks 22nd at 75.68%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
MacKinnon (33 points), Mikko Rantanen (31), and Cale Makar (23) have been the top skaters this season for the Avalanche. Rantanen is among the league leaders with his 14 goals (8th), while MacKinnon is among the league leaders with his 25 assists (4th).
Makar has been another offensive leader for Colorado, scoring six and assisting 17. In the net, Georgiev (10-3-1) is Colorado’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.48 GAA and a .926% save percentage, fourth-best in the league.
Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 32 points (5th in the league). He has 14 goals (5th in the league) and 18 assists in 22 games. Linus Ullmark (13-1-0) has the best goals against average for Boston at 2.00, best in the league. He has a save percentage of .935%, also best.
HOME AND AWAY
Colorado is 8-4-0 away from home this season. Boston is undefeated at TD Garden this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche (+145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
