Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets Prediction, 1/2/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Bruins vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Location: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Bruins (-220) Blue Jackets (+175)

The Columbus Blue Jackets (12-18-8) are hosting the Boston Bruins (22-7-6) at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday. The moneyline on this game has the Bruins at -220 and the Blue Jackets are priced at +175. The total has been set at 7.

The Boston Bruins were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 5-3 win over the Red Wings their last time on the ice. The Bruins had a solid offensive performance and it showed in the win. For the game, they scored on 5 of the 24 shots they put on net. Furthermore, they had 2 power play opportunities but weren't able to score a goal. Boston tallied 16 penalty mins for this matchup.

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While playing at even strength, the Bruins have conceded 72 goals while notching 83 themselves. Boston Bruins opponents have tallied 134 power play opportunities (2nd in pro hockey) and have a total of 19 goals in those attempts. In the matter of their scoring, the Boston Bruins have notched 112 goals (16th in pro hockey) on the season and have surrendered 91. Boston has attempted 1,073 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 10.4%. For the season, they have earned 50 points and their points percentage comes in at .714. The Bruins so far have had 1,124 shots taken against them and have earned a save percentage of .919. Boston has 106 power play chances and they have scored 29 goals out of those chances, garnering them a rate of 27.36%.

The man protecting the net in this game is Linus Ullmark. In his career, Ullmark has recorded 138 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .639. His save percentage currently is .919 during his 12,951 minutes in the crease. Ullmark has had 6,704 shots against him and has recorded 6,159 saves. The opposition has notched 545 goals against Ullmark in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.52. He has earned a mark of 127-68-18 and he started in 216 games. Ullmark has taken the ice for 225 games over the course of his hockey career.

When they took the ice last, Columbus went up against the Sabres in a game where the Blue Jackets took a loss by a mark of 3-2. The Blue Jackets scored 2 goals of the 20 shots on goal they attempted. They had 1 opportunity on the power play in this outing but didn't score a goal.

Columbus has attempted 1,113 shots (13th in professional hockey) and has a shooting percentage of 10.69%, while allowing their opponents 1,306 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 80.95% on their oppositions 105 power play chances, and their save percentage comes in at 89.4%. They have a total of 104 chances on the power play and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 15.38%. The Blue Jackets have racked up 103 goals at even strength and 16 goals (25th in hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 139 goals to be scored by way of 119 goals at even strength and 20 goals while they were shorthanded. On the year, the Columbus Blue Jackets have earned a total of 119 goals, 32 points, as well as a points percentage of .421.

Across the ice you are likely to see Elvis Merzlikins in goal. His opposition is averaging 3.15 goals/game and he has relinquished 497 goals in total. Merzlikins' quality start rate sits at 48.1% and he has made 77 quality starts in his professional career. He has made the start in 160 games and has racked up 9,468 mins. Merzlikins is the owner of a career record of 62-70-28 and has played in 173 games. He has recorded 4,794 stops out of 5,291 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save percentage of .906.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Boston (-220)

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