New Jersey Devils vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 12/30/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs Boston Bruins

Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Devils (+132) Bruins (-159)

The Boston Bruins (20-7-6) will try to defeat the New Jersey Devils (18-13-2) at TD Garden on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has New Jersey at +132 and Boston is priced at -159. The over/under is set at 7.

The New Jersey Devils were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets in their previous game. New Jersey accrued 6 penalty minutes in this outing. The Devils had a solid offensive output and it showed in the win. Furthermore, they had 3 chances with the advantage but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. In the matchup, they converted 4 out of the 35 shots they launched.

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New Jersey Devils opponents have 106 power play tries (20th in the NHL) and have scored 23 goals in those attempts. The Devils so far have had 967 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .879. New Jersey has taken 1,049 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.8%. While at even strength, the Devils have allowed 94 goals while notching 83 on offense. New Jersey has accumulated 103 power play chances and they have tallied 30 goals out of those chances, garnering them a rate of 29.13%. For the current season, they have tallied 38 points and their points percentage sits at .576. In regard to their goal scoring prowess, the New Jersey Devils have racked up 113 goals (10th in the league) on the year and have allowed 117.

The man in goal for this game is Vitek Vanecek. Over the course of his career, Vanecek has tallied 76 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .531. His save percentage currently is at .906 for his 8,561 mins in the crease. Vanecek has had 4,055 shots taken against him and has accrued 3,672 total saves. The opposition has been able to score 383 goals against Vanecek in his NHL career and his goals against average per contest is 2.68. He has earned a mark of 87-39-15 and got the start in 143 games. Vanecek has been in net for 153 games during his hockey career.

Their last time out, Boston faced off against the Sabres in an outing where the Bruins got the win by a tally of 4-1. The Bruins recorded 4 goals out of the 25 shots on goal they tried. They had 4 power play opportunities in this game and earned 3 out of those chances.

Boston has tried 1,018 shots (21st in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.02%, while allowing the opposition 1,061 shots. They have a penalty kill rate of 86.51% on the other teams 126 power play tries, and their save percentage sits at 91.9%. They have earned 102 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 26.47%. The Bruins have scored 75 goals at even strength and 27 goals (9th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have allowed 86 goals to be scored by of a combination of 69 goals at even strength and 17 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the year, the Boston Bruins have accounted for 102 goals, 46 points, as well as a points percentage of .697.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Linus Ullmark patrolling the crease. Teams are averaging 2.53 goals/game and he has given up 543 goals altogether. Ullmark's quality start rate comes out to 63.7% and he has 137 quality starting assignments in his career. He has been a starter 215 games and has been on the ice for 12,891 mins. Ullmark has compiled a career mark of 126-68-18 and has been in net for 224 contests. He has gathered 6,128 saves out of the 6,671 shots attempted, giving him a save % of .919.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Boston (-159)

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