In a game featuring two of the league’s best penalty-kill units, the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins take the ice at TD Garden for an Eastern Conference tilt. The matchup gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 23, and you can catch the game live on Sportsnet.
New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins Odds
Boston is 27-18 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 4.3 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked fourth in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 44-38 record from last year’s regular season campaign. Of the team’s 45 games this season, 21 have gone under the total, while 21 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 15-9 SU at home.
The Bruins have connected on 21.1 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the league. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team has been forced to kill penalties for just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Sporting a .921 save percentage and 25.0 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (17 wins, 13 losses, and four OT losses) has been the top goalkeeper for the Bruins this season. If head coach Bruce Cassidy chooses to give him a breather, however, the team might go with Anton Khudobin (10-7-7 record, .924 save percentage, 2.38 goals against average).
The Bruins will continue looking for offensive production via Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand (48 points) is up to 20 goals and 28 assists and has recorded two or more points on 15 separate occasions this year. Pastrnak has 20 goals and 24 assists to his credit and has notched at least one point in 29 games.
New Jersey is 24-22 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 5.8 units this year. Through 46 regular season matches, 25 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the visiting team so far, the Devils are 11-12 SU.
The Devils have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked sixth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s skaters have been penalized 4.0 times per game in total this season, 3.8 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 8.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider (29.3 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Schneider owns an 18-16-6 record, and has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (17 goals, 31 assists) has been one of the most vital playmakers on offense for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Two of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 3-2 overall in shootouts this season.
The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five games.
Boston has allowed 2.5 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed just 1.3 per match up over its three-game win streak.
Five of New Jersey’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-4 in those games.
The Bruins this season have tallied the fourth-most hits per game (24.3).
