Friday night at Nationwide Arena, the Boston Bruins (7-1-0) and the Columbus Blue Jackets (3-5-0) will square off against each other. The puck will be dropped at 7 o’clock. ET (NHL Network) (NHL Network). Following are our professional NHL picks and predictions, as well as an analysis of the lines provided by Tipico Sportsbook pertaining to the odds that will be played between the Bruins and the Blue Jackets.
Thursday marked the fourth straight victory for the Bruins, as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 5-1. The surging Bruins have won 7 of their last 8 games, all of which have seen them score three goals or more. Since the 15th of October, they have averaged 36.0 shots on goal per game, and their power play is now ranked 9th in the NHL with 8 goals in 32 attempts, which is a 25% success rate.
The last time the Blue Jackets competed was on Tuesday, when they were defeated by the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 in their own arena. The Columbus Blue Jackets have been on the wrong end of 12 goals in their most recent two defeats, and their season goals-against average of 4.1 places them 27th in the league.
Stream the National Hockey League (NHL) all season long on ESPN+, including out-of-market games for your club, exclusive games, original content, and more. Get ESPN+ right away!
odds for the Bruins versus the Blue Jackets
This information was provided by Tipico Sportsbook; for a complete list, visit the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds page. The lines were most recently updated at 12:45 p.m.. ET.
The moneyline for this game is: Blue Jackets +120 (bet $100 to win $120) over Bruins -150 (bet $150 to win $100).
Bruins have a minus-1.5 puck line (+150) while the Blue Jackets have a plus-1.5 against the spread (-190)
Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Make a claim for your free bet, which can be worth up to $350. Get in on the action with Tipico Sportsbook and start placing your bets today! Offer for new customers in Colorado and New Jersey. You must be over 21 to play, and the rules may be found on Tipico.com. Bet right now!
Goaltenders expected to start for the Bruins and Blue Jackets
Linus Ullmark (5-0-0, 2.01 GAA, .936 SV%) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (2-2-0, 4.06 GAA, .863 SV%)
After eight seasons in the NHL, Ullmark has compiled a save percentage of.914 overall. In the past two of seasons, he has been fairly good when playing away from home (his save percentage was.920 in the previous season), and he is coming off of a terrific start at home against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday (30 saves on 31 shots).
Merzlikins most recent appearance was in relief for 23 minutes on Tuesday. He has not started a game since Saturday, when he allowed six goals in a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Merzlikins’ last start was against the Penguins. His lifetime save percentage at home is.919, and he has played 63 games there.
Participate in our no-cost Pick’em Challenge every day for a chance to win! Play now!
Picks and Predictions for the Bruins’ Game Against the Blue Jackets
Prediction
The score is Blue Jackets 4, the Bruins 3.
Moneyline
Expect a high-energy performance from the Blue Jackets, who have been battling injuries since the beginning of the season.
An older club in Boston is currently competing in its third game in the past four days. The previous time that occurred was on October 18, when the Bruins were defeated by the Ottawa Senators by a score of 7-5.
Columbus has stronger statistics than scoreboard margins, especially over the team’s last five or six games. The puck possession and shot-quality figures for Boston don’t entirely reflect the fast start.
In the NHL, betting against early-season road teams that win are frequently rewarding plays.
IN SUPPORT OF THE BLUE JACKETS (+120)
In line with the puck line or against the spread
Both the set-up and the juice for this game do not suggest that it would be a close contest of the type that would be decided by a score of 3-2. Consider the ML to have a more favorable risk-to-reward ratio. PASS.
Over/Under
Ullmark’s performance has been a little more inconsistent than his overall numbers might imply, and Merzlikins is unquestionably having a rough start to the season.
However, the price is extremely high, which makes the Over a poor value. PASS.
Do you want to place a wager on this game or any other NHL contest? Bet legally on sports online with a reputable partner at Tipico Sportsbook, which is SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in the states of Colorado and New Jersey. Bet right now!
Looking for live sports betting and online casino? OKBET offers future bets, player bets, and sports and casino odds. OKBET is offering a 50% cashback welcome bonus and a 68% second deposit bonus. Sign up for more benefits! Follow us for sports and casino betting guides.
You can browse all of our information at OKBET Betting if you are looking for further sports betting selections and tips. We ask that you gamble in a responsible manner.