The Boston Bruins (-105) and their explosive offense are on the road to take on the New York Rangers (-115) and their suffocating defense at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The total is 5.5 (O: -115, U: -105)Boston (35-5-4) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 4-1 win over the Islanders yesterday, their third win in a row.
The Bruins committed seven penalties in the game, though they held the Islanders without a power play goal. Four players found the net for the Bruins. Charlie McAvoy scored and provided an assist to share the scoring lead with Charlie Coyle, who had two assists. Linus Ullmark saved an impressive 25 of 26 shots (.961%) in the win.
New York (25-13-7) beat the Blue Jackets 3-1 on Monday. Barclay Goodrow, Vitali Kravtsov, and Mika Zibanejad scored one apiece for the Rangers. Goodrow added an assist to share the scoring lead with Kaapo Kakko, who had two assists. Jaroslav Halak saved 24 of 25 shots in the win (.960%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-2 victory in November. Hampus Lindholm (1G 1A), Taylor Hall (0G 2A), and Nick Foligno (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Boston. Kakko led New York with two points (0G 2A). Ullmark got the win, saving 18 of 20 shots (.900%).
FACING OFF
Boston is averaging 3.82 goals per game for the season, best in the NHL. The visitors will face a difficult test against a Rangers team that is allowing just 2.62 goals a game (4th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.16 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Bruins are holding opponents to a league-best 2.09 goals per game.
Boston averages more shots/game (33.9) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth, while the team’s 11.4% shooting percentage is fourth. New York’s average of 32.9 attempts ranks eighth.
The Bruins’ 27.81% power play percentage is the third-best in the league, while the Rangers rank 16th with a conversion rate of 21.38%. Boston has been equally adept at penalty killing, boasting the league’s highest PK% at 86.71%. New York ranks 15th at 79.69%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 63 points this season, third-most in the NHL, David Pastrnak is the top skater for the Bruins. He is among the league leaders with 35 goals (2nd) and has added 28 assists. In the net, Ullmark (23-2-1) is Boston’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 1.92 GAA, best in the league, and a .936% save percentage, also best.
Artemi Panarin (47 points), Zibanejad (46), and Adam Fox (45) lead the Rangers in scoring. Panarin has 12 goals and 35 assists (8th) in 45 games, while Zibanejad has 20 goals and 26 assists.
Fox has nine goals and 36 assists (0th). Igor Shesterkin (20-7-6) is the top goalie for New York with a goals against average of 2.43. He has a save percentage of .918%.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston has won five straight on the road this season. New York is 11-8-4 at Madison Square Garden this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins are 5-1 without a day off and 4-1 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Rangers are 0-5 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
