The United Center plays host to an Original Six clash as the Chicago Blackhawks welcome the visiting Boston Bruins. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. NBC will air the action, which gets underway at 0:30 ET on Sunday, March 11.
Boston Bruins at Chicago Blackhawks Odds
Boston is 43-23 straight up (SU) and has earned 8.6 units for moneyline bettors this year. 34 of its outings have gone under the total, while 30 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the road team this season, the Bruins are 18-12 SU.
Boston has converted on 22.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for fifth-best in the NHL. Its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.1 percent of all penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over its past five games. The team’s been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Averaging 25.2 saves per game with a .918 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (28-16-4) has been the top option in goal for Boston this season. Rask did just play yesterday, however, so Boston could choose to rest him and roll with Anton Khudobin instead (15-10-4 record, .918 save percentage, 2.45 goals against average).
The visiting Bruins have relied heavily on Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak this year. Marchand (69 points) has tallied 29 goals and 40 assists, and has recorded multiple points 20 times. Pastrnak has 24 goals and 40 assists to his credit, and has notched a point in 43 games.
Over on the other bench, Chicago is 29-40 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.9 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 36 of its matches have gone under the total, while 29 have gone over and just three have pushed. It’s 16-18 SU at home this season.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 15.5 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Chicago players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties just 5.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford (27.9 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Blackhawks. Crawford has 16 wins, 12 losses, and two OT losses to his credit and has registered a .929 save percentage and 2.27 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Patrick Kane (24 goals, 40 assists).
Boston Bruins at Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Boston (3-2 in shootouts this season) has more experience in games decided by shootout. Chicago has only participated in a couple of shootouts this year, winning one and losing the other.
The over has hit in three of Chicago’s last five outings.
Over Chicago’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
Boston skaters have dished out the league’s seventh-most hits per game (24.0), but the team’s recorded just 19.8 hits over their last five away games.
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