Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 3/5/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2022

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Bruins (-175) Blue Jackets (+143)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (28-25-1) will take on the Boston Bruins (33-18-4) at Nationwide Arena on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has Boston at -175 and Columbus is coming in at +143. The total is 6.

The Boston Bruins will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 5-2 win over the Golden Knights in their previous outing. Boston earned 2 penalty mins in this matchup. Moreover, they had 1 power play attempt but didn't net one. The Bruins had a good offensive outing and it showed in the victory. For the matchup, they converted 5 out of the 36 shots they put on net.

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Concerning their goal scoring prowess, the Boston Bruins have notched 165 goals (15th in the league) on the campaign and have conceded 146. For the current campaign, they sit with 70 points and their points percentage is .636. Boston skates onto the rink with 157 power play opportunities and they have tallied 38 goals out of those advantages, giving them a percentage of 24.20%. While playing at even strength, the Bruins have given up 114 goals while earning 127 on offense. Boston has attempted 1,936 shots and has a shot percentage of 8.5%. The Bruins have had 1,609 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .909. Boston Bruins opponents have tallied 176 power play tries (4th in pro hockey) and have scored 32 goals in those chances.

The player protecting the goal in this game is Jeremy Swayman. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Swayman has accrued 26 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .765. His save percentage sits at .934 in his 2,077 minutes on the ice. Swayman has had 959 shots taken against him and has recorded 896 saves. Opponents have been able to score 63 goals versus Swayman in his NHL career and his goals against rate is 1.82. He has amassed a record of 21-10-3 and was named the starter in 34 games. Swayman has taken the ice for 35 matchups throughout his hockey career.

In their last outing, Columbus played the Devils in an outing where the Blue Jackets took home the win by a mark of 4-3. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this one and recorded 1 goal out of those attempts. The Blue Jackets scored 4 goals of the 31 shots on goal they tried.

The Blue Jackets have 153 goals at even strength and 23 goals (27th in the NHL) while on the power play. Columbus has taken 1,607 shots (22nd in the NHL) and has earned a shot percentage of 10.95%, while allowing the other team 1,930 shots. So far this year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have tallied 176 goals, 57 points, and a points percentage of .528. They have earned 134 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 17.16%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 80.89% on their opponents 157 power play chances, and their save percentage is currently 89.9%. They have permitted 195 goals to be scored by of a combination of 165 goals at even strength and 30 goals while they were shorthanded.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Elvis Merzlikins defending the net. Merzlikins is sitting with a lifetime mark of 40-35-14 and has participated in 95 contests. Merzlikins' quality start percentage comes out to 52.9% and he has 46 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He has a tally of 2,592 stops out of the 2,837 shots attempted against him, giving him a save percentage of .914. Opponents are averaging 2.84 goals per contest and he has surrendered 245 goals altogether. He has started in 87 games and has played for a total of 5,167 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (+143)

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