Power Outage in Columbus
The Boston Bruins lead the NHL in goal differential in the third period, so when the team with the best home record in the league took a 2-0 advantage into the third period against Los Angeles on Thursday night, the Bruins picking up two more points seemed inevitable.
However, a late 5-on-3 power play given to the Kings helped Los Angeles force overtime and then win the game in a shootout.
At least the Bruins got a point out of the game; Columbus has scored just one goal in dropping the last two games. The Blue Jackets were outscored 4-0 in the third period in losses to Florida and Tampa Bay. Now, the team with an NHL-low two road wins will be facing a Bruins squad a little anxious about the game that got away.
According to the NHL playoff odds, the Bruins (+600) are second in the odds to win the Stanley Cup. The Blue Jackets are well back at +50000.
Let’s check the latest NHL odds, stats, injury reports, and NHL lines for Blue Jackets vs Bruins. We’ve plenty of NHL betting odds for you to consider.
Secondary Scoring an Issue
The star players from Columbus are producing, with Patrik Laine having six goals and nine points, Johnny Gaudreau recording nine points, Jack Roslovic contributing two goals and six assists, and Boone Jenner having a goal and five assists in eight games played in December.
However, Columbus has struggled to get production throughout its lineup.
Promising rookie Kent Johnson has one goal in his last nine games. Cole Sillinger has gone 13 games without a goal, while Yegor Chinakov and Sean Kuraly have combined for one goal in eight games played in December.
With the defensive struggles in Columbus, the Blue Jackets need more than a handful of players to contribute offensively.
The NHL betting lines total has gone under in nine of the last 11 Columbus games.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
On a Power Trip
Here is some free advice to Columbus: venture to the penalty box at your own risk.
Not only are the Bruins 15-0-2 at home this season, but two of the top 10 point producers on the power play at home happen to be Boston wingers David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.
Only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid has more power-play points at home than Pastrnak’s total of 14. Marchand has 11 points in 12 games, including a goal on the power play in Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Don’t worry, 88.
63 wasn’t missing.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/kBtOLxViwM
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 16, 2022
That was his first goal on the power play in 13 games, so don’t be surprised to see Marchand being even more aggressive on Saturday.
The Las Vegas odds total has gone under in nine of Boston’s last 12 games against Columbus.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Injuries
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Head-to-Head
Boston has won four games in a row against Columbus.
When the teams played on Oct. 28 in Columbus, David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist, while Linus Ullmark stopped all 30 shots in a 4-0 win.
Seven of the previous 11 games between the teams have been decided by one goal.
Six of the last seven meetings in Boston finished as one-goal affairs, while five of those contests went under the total.
Five of the last seven games between the teams went over the total when betting online.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Game Information
- Game: Blue Jackets (21-5-1) vs Bruins (23-4-2)
- Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- Day/Time: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET
- Blue Jackets vs Bruins Live Stream: NHL.TV
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Betting Lines
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Picks & Prediction
Boston figures to kick things into high gear after the Bruins squandered a point the last time out, so Columbus may better start on time in this game.
When the season began, Boston was without Marchand and defenseman Charlie McAvoy. Teammates started joining them on the injury list. However, going into this game, they are clearly the healthier team.
Columbus lost top-pair defenseman Zach Werenski for the season with a shoulder injury. Fellow defensemen Jake Bean, Adam Boqvist, and Nick Blankenburg are also out, as are veteran forward Jakub Voracek and goalie Joonas Korpisalo. Winger Eric Robinson is questionable for Saturday’s game.
The Bruins are 20-9 against the spread and, when listed as the favorite, have a 17-3-2 record straight up.
Columbus has been favored just twice this season.
Boston is listed at 350 in our Las Vegas odds. This means that if you wager $100 on the Bruins, you have a chance to win $350.00. Columbus is +290, offering a chance to win $290.00 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Boston a 77.78% chance to win, with the Blue Jackets at 25.64%.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Trends
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Edge
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Results
Blue Jackets vs Bruins Game Summary
