Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 12/28/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins

Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

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

The Boston Bruins (19-13-4) will play the Columbus Blue Jackets (14-15-6) at TD Garden on Saturday. The moneyline on this game has Columbus at +125 while Boston opens at -145. The over/under is 6.5.

The Columbus Blue Jackets were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 5-4 victory against the Canadiens their last time on the ice. The Blue Jackets had a good offensive output in the win. In the matchup, they tallied a score on 5 out of the 32 shots they tried. Furthermore, they had 3 attempts on the power play and scored 1 goal. Columbus earned 4 penalty minutes in this game.

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Columbus Blue Jackets opponents have recorded 104 power play opportunities (11th in the league) and have come away with 27 goals in those attempts. The Blue Jackets so far have had 1,018 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .875. Columbus has attempted 1,064 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.9%. At even strength, the Blue Jackets have given up 100 goals while notching 98 themselves. Columbus skates onto the rink with 94 power play opportunities and they have tallied 18 goals during those advantages, garnering them a percentage of 19.15%. For the season, they have racked up 34 points and their points percentage is sitting at .486. In reference to their goal scoring prowess, the Columbus Blue Jackets have racked up 116 goals (9th in pro hockey) so far this year and have surrendered 127.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Elvis Merzlikins. For his professional hockey career, Merzlikins has 95 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is at .477. His save percentage sits at .903 in his 10,505 mins between the pipes. Merzlikins has had 6,438 shot attempts against him and he has 5,811 total saves. The opposition has notched 627 goals versus Merzlikins in his pro career and his average for goals against per game is 3.58. He has compiled a mark of 78-88-33 and he started in 199 games. Merzlikins has been involved in 213 games throughout his NHL career.

In their last contest, Boston faced off against the Capitals in an outing where the Bruins ended up with the win by a score of 4-1. The Bruins earned 4 goals of the 22 shots on goal they pursued. They had 4 power play attempts in this matchup and tallied 1 out of those tries.

The Bruins are sitting with 78 goals at even strength and 17 goals (23rd in the league) while on the power play. Boston has taken 997 shots (17th in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 9.53%, while allowing their opponents 963 shots. Over the course of the season, the Boston Bruins have tallied 95 goals, 42 points, as well as a points percentage of .583. They have granted a total of 109 goals to be scored by way of 82 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they were shorthanded. They have earned 125 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play rate of 13.60%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 77.31% on their opponents 119 power play tries, and their save percentage currently comes in at 88.7%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Jeremy Swayman in net. He has racked up 3,917 stops out of 4,287 shots tried, giving him a rate of .914. Swayman is the owner of a career mark of 91-43-18 and has participated in 157 contests. He has made the start in 150 games and has played for a total of 7,632 mins. Swayman's rate of quality starts sits at 62.0% and he has made 93 quality starting assignments in his career. Opponents are averaging 2.91 goals per game and he has surrendered 370 goals overall.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Columbus (+125)

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