Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 11/18/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins

Date: Monday, November 18, 2024

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Blue Jackets (+125) Bruins (-145)

TD Garden is the site where the Boston Bruins (8-8-2) will attempt to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets (5-8-2) on Monday. The moneyline on this matchup has Columbus at +125 and Boston is at -145. The over/under is 6.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will look for better times on the ice after their 5-2 loss to the Kraken their last time on the ice. The Blue Jackets had a below average offensive performance in the defeat. In the outing, they converted 2 out of the 40 shots they tried. They also had 1 chance with extra men on the ice but weren't able to net one. Columbus garnered 6 penalty minutes for this contest.

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Pertaining to their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have notched 46 goals (23rd in the NHL) on the season and have conceded 54. For the year, they have 12 points and their points percentage comes in at .400. Columbus has tallied 38 power play opportunities and they have notched 7 goals out of those chances, giving them a percentage of 18.42%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have conceded 46 goals while notching 39 on offense. Columbus has taken 474 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 9.7%. The Blue Jackets have seen 434 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .876. Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have earned 43 power play tries (26th in the league) and have scored 8 goals in those chances.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Elvis Merzlikins. Merzlikins has been involved in 199 contests throughout his NHL career. He has amassed a record of 70-84-31 and he has gotten the start in 185 games. Opponents have been able to score 582 goals versus Merzlikins in his professional career and his goals against average is 3.34. Merzlikins has seen 6,050 shots taken against him and has accrued 5,468 saves. He has a save percentage of .904 for his 10,470 mins between the pipes. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Merzlikins has accounted for 88 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .476.

When they took the ice last, Boston opposed the Stars in a game where the Bruins took the defeat by a tally of 7-2. The Bruins recorded 2 goals out of the 25 shots on goal they attempted. They had 2 opportunities on the power play in this matchup but were not able to net one.

So far this year, the Boston Bruins are sitting with 45 goals, 18 points, in addition to a points percentage of .500. They have granted a total of 61 goals to be scored by way of 42 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they were shorthanded. The Bruins have accumulated 37 goals at even strength and 8 goals (24th in hockey) while on the power play. They have a total of 70 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 11.43%. Boston has taken 494 shots (13th in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.11%, while allowing their opponents 530 shots. They have earned a penalty kill rate of 74.32% on their opponents 74 power play tries, and their save percentage is 88.5%.

On the other side of the ice you are going to see Jeremy Swayman between the pipes. He has recorded 3,661 saves out of the 3,998 shots attempted against him, giving him a percentage of .916. Swayman is sitting with a lifetime mark of 84-39-17 and has played in 145 games. He has been a starter 138 games and his ice time sits at 7,601 mins. Swayman's quality start rate comes out to 63.0% and he has 87 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. Opponents are averaging 2.66 goals/game and he has surrendered 337 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (+125)

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