Two of the most-penalized teams in the league, the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings clash at Little Caesars Arena for an Original Six matchup. The action gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 13 and it’s being shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings Odds
With a -145 moneyline, Boston enters the matchup as the noticeable favorite. The line for Detroit sits at +125 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -115 for the over and -105 for the under.
Boston is 14-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 27 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and none have pushed. The Bruins are 5-7 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Boston has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.7 percent of its penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays a whopping 14.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Boasting a .912 save percentage and 24.2 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (7-11-2) has been the primary option in goal for Boston this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy may roll with Anton Khudobin (7-4-2), who has a .922 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
The visiting Bruins have relied on David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand this season. Pastrnak (27 points) has tallied 14 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded two or more points seven times. Marchand has 11 goals and 12 assists to his name (and has logged at least one point in 14 games).
On the other side of the ice, Detroit is 11-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. This season, the team’s 5-11 SU at home.
The Red Wings have converted on just 20.0 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all penalties.
Detroit players have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their past five contests total, and 4.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard has stopped 25.2 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Red Wings. Howard has nine wins, 16 losses, and five OT losses to his name and has maintained a subpar .906 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average this year.
The Wings offense will be led by Dylan Larkin (four goals, 19 assists).
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
Boston is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Detroit is 2-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Detroit’s last five games.
Over Boston’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
Boston skaters have dished out the fourth-most hits in the league (24.2 per game).
