Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 4/2/2022 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+205) Bruins (-250)

The Boston Bruins (42-20-5) will go up against the Columbus Blue Jackets (32-31-5) at TD Garden on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has Columbus at +205 while Boston is coming in at -250. The over/under is 6.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-2 defeat to the Islanders in the last game they played. Columbus accounted for 6 penalty mins in this game. Additionally, they had 3 chances with the advantage but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Blue Jackets had a below average offensive outing in this loss. In the game, they scored on 2 of the 32 shots they put on net.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 196 power play tries (13th in professional hockey) and have come away with 44 goals in those chances. The Blue Jackets have had 2,401 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .895. Columbus has attempted 2,058 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.5%. When playing at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 209 goals while getting 184 themselves. Columbus is sitting with 178 power play opportunities and they have notched 33 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 18.54%. For the current season, they have recorded 69 points and their points percentage is sitting at .507. In regard to their scoring, the Columbus Blue Jackets have accumulated 217 goals (13th in the league) on the season and have allowed 253.

The man in goal for this game is Elvis Merzlikins. Opponents have been able to score 285 goals versus Merzlikins in his pro hockey career and his average for goals against per game is 2.92. Merzlikins has participated in 107 games over the course of his NHL career. His save percentage currently is .911 in his 5,856 mins guarding the cage. He has compiled an overall mark of 43-38-18 and he started in 98 games. In his professional hockey career, Merzlikins has accounted for 50 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .510. Merzlikins has seen 3,220 shot attempts against him and has recorded 2,935 total saves.

In their last outing, Boston faced the Devils in a game where the Bruins earned a victory by a score of 8-1. The Bruins earned 8 goals of the 40 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play chances in this matchup and recorded 1 goal out of those chances.

Boston has put up 2,394 shots (5th in the league) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 8.77%, while allowing their opponents 1,933 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 81.60% on the other teams 212 power play opportunities, and their save percentage sits at 90.7%. They have earned 192 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 23.96%. The Bruins have earned 164 goals at even strength and 46 goals (10th in hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 179 goals to be scored by way of 140 goals at even strength and 39 goals while they were shorthanded. For the season, the Boston Bruins have accumulated 210 goals, 89 points, as well as a points percentage of .664.

On the other side of the ice you will find Jeremy Swayman between the pipes. He is sitting with 1,062 saves out of the 1,147 shots taken, giving him a save percentage of .926. Swayman has accumulated a career mark of 26-12-3 and has played in 42 games. He has started in 41 games and has been on the ice for 2,481 mins. Swayman's percentage of quality starts comes out to 73.2% and he has 30 quality starts in his professional career. His opponents are averaging 2.06 goals per game and he has allowed 85 goals overall.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Columbus (+205)

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