The Boston Bruins (23-4-2), one of the league’s weakest power play offenses, host the Columbus Blue Jackets (10-17-2) and their stifling penalty killing defense at TD Garden on Saturday. Columbus is coming off a 4-1 loss against the Lightning on Thursday, their third straight defeat away from home.
Kirill Marchenko scored the only goal in regulation for the Blue Jackets. Daniil Tarasov only had 25 saves on 28 shots against (.892%) in the loss.
Boston fell 3-2 (SO) to the Kings on Thursday. Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall both scored once for the Bruins. Linus Ullmark saved 28 of 30 shots (.933%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 4-0 victory in October, their fourth straight win against Columbus. David Pastrnak led Boston with two points (1G 1A). Ullmark saved 30 shots to earn the shutout win.
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging 2.79 goals per game for the season, 27th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Bruins team that is allowing only 2.14 goals a game (1st). Meanwhile, Boston has found the net 3.79 times a game on average, second in the league, and will be looking to capitalize on the Blue Jackets’ weak defense, which is allowing opponents to score 4.07 goals per game (31st).
Boston averages more shots a game (34.9) than most teams in the league, ranking fourth, while the team’s 11.1% shooting percentage is eighth. Columbus has had difficulty stopping shots, ranking No. 29 with a team save percentage of .889%.
The Bruins’ 27.93% power play percentage is the fourth-best in the league, while the Blue Jackets rank 31st with a conversion rate of just 14.29%. Boston has been equally strong at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 85.71%. Columbus ranks 17th at 78.95%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 31 points this season, Johnny Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 10 goals and 21 assists in 29 games. In the net, Joonas Korpisalo (4-5-1) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.53 GAA and a .903% save percentage. Elvis Merzlikins (4-8-0) leads the Blue Jackets in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 4.68 and a save percentage of .864%.Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 40 points (6th in the league).
He has 19 goals (7th in the league) and 21 assists. Ullmark (17-1-0) has the best goals against average for Boston at 1.83, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .938%, also second-best.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus is 2-7-1 away from Nationwide Arena this season. Boston is undefeated at home this season in 17 games.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+310)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
