Two teams that’ve spent a lot of this season in the penalty box, the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings collide at Little Caesars Arena for an Original Six tilt. The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 13, and it can be caught live on NBC Sports Network.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings Odds
Boston (-145) is currently favored over Detroit (+125) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting that total stand at -115 for the over and -105 on the under.
Boston is 14-13 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 27 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Bruins team is 5-7 SU on the road.
Boston has converted on 19.8 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked third overall, and the teams successfully killed off 85.7 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Boston has been penalized 4.1 times per game this season, and 5.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties a whopping 14.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 24.2 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (7-11-2) has been the best option in goal for Boston this season. If Boston chooses to rest him, however, they might turn to Anton Khudobin (7-4-2), who has a .922 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average this year.
David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand will both lead the way for the visiting Bruins. Pastrnak (27 points) is up to 14 goals and 13 assists, and has recorded multiple points in seven different games. Marchand has 11 goals and 12 assists to his creditand has notched at least one point in 14 games.
On the other bench, Detroit is 11-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 8.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 16 of its games have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 5-11 SU as the home team this year.
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 is ranked 12th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Detroit skaters have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game in total this season, 4.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 4.6 per game over their last five home outings. The teams been forced to stave off opponent power plays 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jimmy Howard has stopped 25.2 shots per game as the primary selection in goal for Detroit. Howard has nine wins, 16 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit and has registered a mediocre 2.90 goals against average and a poor .906 save percentage this year.
Dylan Larkin (four goals, 19 assists) will lead the attack for the Red Wings.
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Wings, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The total has gone over in four of Detroit’s last five outings.
- Penalties and power plays may play a key role in tonight’s game. The Bruins are 5-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 6-8 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Red Wings are 2-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 5-13 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Detroit is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Boston is 1-1 in shootouts.
- Detroit has forced 4.8 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.5 takeaways per game (ranked 22nd overall).
- One of the top teams at creating pressure on opposing puckhandlers, Boston is ranked fourth this season with 10.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher recently, as it’s averaged 10.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 12.4 takeaways over its last five.
- Boston could hold an advantage if it’s a tight one late. The teams 7-5 in games decided by one goal, while Detroit is only 3-9 in such games.
