In their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins take the ice at TD Garden. This Original Six matchup gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 1, and it can be viewed live on Fox Sports Detroit Plus.
Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins Odds
Detroit (+165) is entering this one as the underdog to Boston (-190), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. If gamblers want to play the game’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
The Bruins are 14-11 straight-up (SU) and have not been kind to moneyline bettors (to the tune of -0.6 units) thus far. That early-season winning percentage is a slide from what the team managed during the 2017-18 season (50-32). 17 of the team’s 25 contests have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. The team’s 9-2 SU at home this season.
Boston enters the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 29.9 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 20th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.6 percent of all penalties.
Boston, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.3 times per game overall this season, and 2.2 per game over its last five contests. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.5 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
With a .936 save percentage and 28.3 saves per game, Jaroslav Halak (eight wins, seven losses, and two OT losses) has been the best option in goal for the Bruins this year. If head coach Bruce Cassidy decides to give him the night off, however, the Bruins might go with Tuukka Rask (6-6-6 record, .917 save percentage, 2.54 goals against average).
David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron will each spearhead the attack for the Bruins. Pastrnak (29 points) has tallied 19 goals and 10 assists and has recorded multiple points on seven separate occasions this year. Bergeron has nine goals and 17 assists to his name and has notched a point in 12 contests.
Detroit has netted 0.9 units for moneyline bettors this season and is currently 11-14 straight up (SU). Through 25 regular season matches, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 12 have gone under the total and just one has pushed. As a road team , Detroit is 4-7 SU.
Detroit has converted on 20.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 18th overall and it’s successfully killed off 78.7 percent of all penalties.
Detroit’s players have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five contests. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard (30.0 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for Detroit. Howard has eight wins, 10 losses, and three OT losses to his credit, and has registered a .922 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average this year.
Dylan Larkin (nine goals, 12 assists) and Gustav Nyquist (three goals, 15 assists) are the top point-getters for Detroit and will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings at Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Boston’s last five outings.
- Boston’s attempted 30.9 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 19th in the NHL), and 32.4 across their last 10 games.
- Power-play opportunities may be even more critical than usual in the outcome of this matchup. The Red Wings are 2-4 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-6 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Bruins are 7-4 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 9-7 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of Detroit’s past 10 contests have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-2 overall in shootouts this season.
- Boston is ranked 6th overall with 8.9 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended down recently, however, as it has averaged 7.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Detroit has managed 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 25th).
