Things are starting to heat up in the 2019-20 National Hockey League season, and teams are starting to separate from the back in either a good or a bad way. There are plenty of great betting opportunities around the NHL this weekend, but we have turned our attention to a matchup on Thursday night. The Boston Bruins will host the Chicago Blackhawks and that is where we find the NHL Pick of the Week.
Boston enters the week with a whopping 43 points to sit in first place in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have won seven straight games through Sunday, and they have just three losses in regulation all season long. Chicago has just one victory in their last six games, and they are headed in the wrong direction. The Blackhawks sit in last place in the Central Division with just 25 points on the season.
Blackhawks Struggling on Defense Again
The Chicago Blackhawks thought they had figured out their defense earlier this season, but they are starting to give up a ton of goals again. Chicago has allowed right at three goals per game this season, but their goaltenders have been forced to make a ton of saves. Goaltenders Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford are both in the top-10 in the league in save percentage, but the Blackhawks have to stop giving up so many scoring opportunities.
Patrick Kane is having another huge season for the Blackhawks on offense, but he needs some help from his teammates. Kane leads the team with 14 goals, 19 assists, and 33 points and he has made it a habit of recording a point nearly every game. Chicago’s power play has been a big issue this season, and that needs to change if they want to start winning games.
Bruins Do Everything Well
The Boston Bruins don’t have any weaknesses on their team this season, but their offense has been a pleasant surprise. David Pastrnak is on a historic run to begin the season, and he is definitely the MVP of the NHL so far this season. Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 24 goals already this season, and Brad Marchand has chipped in with 23 assists. Boston should have a big night against a bad Blackhawks defense.
Goaltender Tuukka Rask continues to be one of the best netminders in the NHL, and he has been dominant so far this season. The Bruins are giving up just 2.3 goals per game, and that is with them playing an extremely fast tempo on offense. Boston has also killed off 84 percent of their own penalties this season, and Rask has been a big reason for that.
Boston Beats Chicago on Thursday Night
These two teams have built up a terrific rivalry over the last decade, and they have both had periods of sustained success. The Bruins are still one of the best teams in the NHL this season, but the Chicago Blackhawks are not. Chicago can score goals with the best of them, but they also give them up in a hurry. Boston will keep the Chicago offense down, and their own offense will lead them to a victory in this game.Bet the Boston Bruins over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Pick of the Week.
