The Boston Bruins (-160), one of the NHL’s weakest power play offenses, travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets (+135) and their suffocating penalty killing defense at Nationwide Arena on Friday. The total is 6.5 (O: -120, U: +100) Boston (7-1-0) is embarking on a five-game road trip with the second of a back-to-back after earning a 5-1 win over the Red Wings yesterday, their fourth straight win.
The Bruins committed five penalties in the game, though they held Detroit without a power play goal. Brad Marchand was the top goalscorer for the Bruins with two goals. Jeremy Swayman had a great performance with 28 saves (.965%) in the win. Columbus (3-5-0) fell 6-3 to the Coyotes on Tuesday.
Johnny Gaudreau, Andrew Peeke, and Kent Johnson scored one apiece for the Blue Jackets. Jake Bean had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Daniil Tarasov saved only eight of 12 shots (.666%) after starting in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won all three games between the teams last season, including a 3-2 (OT) victory in their final meeting in April, their third straight win against Columbus. Jake DeBrusk (2G 0A) and Charlie McAvoy (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Boston. Jakub Voracek led Columbus with two points (0G 2A). Linus Ullmark got the win, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909%).
FACING OFF
Boston is averaging 4.25 goals per game so far this season, second in the NHL, and they are taking on a Blue Jackets team that is allowing 4.12 goals a game (27th). Meanwhile, Columbus has found the net 3.12 times a game on average, 18th in the league, and the Bruins are allowing opponents to score 2.62 goals per game (7th).
The Blue Jackets’ 32nd-ranked power play offense (0.00%) will face a tough test against the Bruins, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (93.33%). Boston, meanwhile, has scored on 25.00% of their power play opportunities (9th), which the visitors will be aiming to improve on against Columbus’ 13th-ranked 81.48% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 15 points this season, second-most in the NHL, David Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders in both goals and assists, finding the net six times (5th) and assisting nine scores for this teammates (2nd). In the net, Ullmark (5-0-0) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.01 GAA and a .936% save percentage, fifth-best in the league.Gaudreau leads the Blue Jackets in scoring with eight points. He has five goals (8th) and three assists in eight games.
Tarasov (1-3-0) has the best goals against average for Columbus at 3.91. He has a save percentage of .888%. Elvis Merzlikins (2-2-0) has played the most games in net for the Blue Jackets this season. He has a 4.06 GAA and a .863% save percentage.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 1-1-0 away from home this season. Columbus is 2-3-0 at Nationwide Arena this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins are 0-1 without a day off and 0-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Blue Jackets are 1-0 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Boston Bruins (-175)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
