Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 12/3/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins

Date: Sunday, December 3, 2023

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

The Boston Bruins (15-4-3) are welcoming the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-13-4) at TD Garden on Sunday.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the wrong end of the scoreboard with a 4-2 defeat to the Canadiens their last time out. Columbus accounted for 2 penalty mins in this game. The Blue Jackets left a lot to be desired in terms of their offense in this loss. In addition, they had 1 chance with the advantage but didn't net one. For the matchup, they scored on 2 of the 28 shots they put on net.

Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have 65 power play opportunities (29th in the league) and have a total of 7 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets so far have had 803 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .898. Columbus has taken 731 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 9.4%. When at even strength, the Blue Jackets have surrendered 75 goals while earning 61 themselves. Columbus has accumulated 73 power play chances and they have tallied 8 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 10.96%. For the season, they have tallied 18 points and their points percentage sits at .375. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned 69 goals (19th in hockey) so far this season and have surrendered 82.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has taken the ice for 167 matchups over the course of his professional hockey career. He has earned a record of 60-70-25 and he has gotten the start in 154 games. Opponents have racked up 477 goals versus Merzlikins in his professional hockey career and his goals against rate is 3.13. Merzlikins has seen 5,080 shot attempts taken against him and he has 4,603 total saves. He has a save percentage of .906 during his 9,138 minutes guarding the cage. In his career, Merzlikins has 75 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .487.

In their last contest, Boston went up against the Sharks in a game where the Bruins ended up with the victory by a score of 3-0. The Bruins notched 3 goals out of the 37 shots on goal they took. They had 4 power play attempts in this outing and notched 1 out of those opportunities.

Boston has put up 698 shots (13th in hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 10.46%, while allowing their opponents 698 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 88.37% on the other teams 86 chances on the power play, and their save percentage sits at 92.1%. They have recorded 72 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 22.22%. The Bruins have racked up 57 goals at even strength and 16 goals (12th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have granted a total of 55 goals to be scored by way of 45 goals at even strength and 10 goals while they were shorthanded. So far this year, the Boston Bruins have accumulated 73 goals, 33 points, as well as a points percentage of .750.

On the other side of the ice you will find Linus Ullmark defending the goal. He is sitting with 5,938 stops out of the 6,461 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save % of .919. Ullmark has accumulated a career mark of 123-66-17 and has played in 218 games. He was named a starter in 209 contests and his ice time sits at 12,525 mins. Ullmark's quality start rate is 63.6% and he has 133 quality starts in his professional career. His opposition is averaging 2.51 goals/game and he has allowed 523 goals altogether.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Boston

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