In a game that features two of the league’s strongest penalty-kill units, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins take the ice at TD Garden in an Eastern Conference matchup. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, December 18, and you will be able to watch it live on TVA Sports.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins Odds
Boston (+110) is playing the role of underdog to Boston (-130), and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-135 money on the under, +115 on the over).
Columbus is 20-13 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 3.0 units this year. 17 of its matches have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. This 2017-18 Blue Jackets team is 8-7 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 9.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the bottom- overall among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it has successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, Columbus has been penalized just 2.9 times per game this season, and 3.8 per game over its past five outings. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .923 save percentage and 27.1 saves per game, Sergei Bobrovsky (17-10-1) has been the top option in goal for Columbus this season. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to rest him, however, Columbus may turn to Joonas Korpisalo (3-4), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.97 goals against average this year.
Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Blue Jackets. Panarin has 28 points via seven goals and 21 assists, and has recorded two or more points five times. Bjorkstrand has six goals and 16 assists to his creditand has registered at least one point in 17 games.
On the other side of the rink, Boston is 15-15 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 16 of its outings have gone under the total, while 14 have gone over and none have pushed. It’s 9-8 SU at home this season.
Boston has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.3 percent of all penalties.
Boston players have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game in total this season, 4.2 per game over their past five games total, and 4.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays a whopping 15.0 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Tuukka Rask has denied 24.6 shots per game as the top choice in goal for Boston. Rask has eight wins, 12 losses, and three OT losses to his credit and has registered a 2.44 goals against average and a .913 save percentage this year.
The Bruins offense will be led by David Pastrnak (15 goals, 15 assists).
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of Boston’s last five outings.
Columbus has attempted 34.7 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 34.7 in its last 10 games.
The Blue Jackets are 7-4 SU when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Bruins are 7-4 SU in games where they spend more time in the box than the opposition.
Columbus is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 1-1 in shootouts.
One of the best at disrupting opposing puckhandlers, Boston is ranked 4th in the NHL with 10.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended upward recently, as the team has averaged 11.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 12.0 takeaways over its last five.
Columbus skaters have forced 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 12th in the NHL).
