In their third and last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins face off at TD Garden for an Eastern Conference tilt. Sportsnet will air the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 19.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins Odds
Earning 9.4 units for moneyline bettors, Boston is 45-25 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That winning percentage, ranked third in the league so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team did during the 2016-17 season (44-38). Through 70 regular season outings, 37 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 25-11 SU at home this year.
The Bruins have converted on 22.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is rated 11th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Bruins have been called for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over their last five matchups at home. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for 12.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Boasting a .919 save percentage and 25.3 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (30 wins, 16 losses, and four OT losses) has been the best goalkeeper for the Bruins this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to give him the evening off, however, the team may roll with Anton Khudobin (15-12-12 record, .917 save percentage, 2.50 goals against average).
The Bruins will continue to lean on the offensive production from Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Marchand (73 points) has tallied 30 goals and 43 assists and has recorded two or more points on 22 different occasions this year. Pastrnak has 28 goals and 41 assists to his name and has recorded at least one point in 45 games.
Columbus is 39-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors thus far. A total of 38 of its outings have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Blue Jackets are 15-20 SU as the away team this season.
The Blue Jackets have converted on just 15.4 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 29th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 25th overall and it’s successfully defended 77.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Columbus’ skaters have been penalized only 3.0 times per game this season, and 3.6 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (28.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for Columbus. Bobrovsky owns a 32-26-5 record, and has registered a .921 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Blue Jackets, the offense will be facilitated through Artemi Panarin, who has 42 assists and 21 goals this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Boston is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Columbus is 6-4 in shootouts.
The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five games.
Columbus has managed 29.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Boston has been attempting 38.4 shots per game over its last five at home.
Seven of Columbus’ last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
The Bruins this season have handed the ninth-most hits per game (23.9), but that number has risen to 26.6 over their last five games as the home team.
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