TD Garden will be the site for an Eastern Conference showdown as the Pittsburgh Penguins come into town to face the Boston Bruins. NBC will broadcast the matchup, which gets going at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, November 24.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins Odds
Pittsburgh is 11-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 23 regular season outings, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 5-9 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh currently has the third-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 23.9 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Its penalty kill is ranked 29th out of 31 teams, and it has successfully killed off only 75.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been whistled for penalties 4.9 times per game this season, 4.8 per game over its last five outings total, and 4.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .907 save percentage and 26.8 saves per game, Matt Murray (11-8-1) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to rest him, however, Pittsburgh might roll with Antti Niemi (0-3 record, .797 save percentage, 7.49 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin will both be relied on to produce for the visiting Penguins. Kessel (26 points) has tallied eight goals and 18 assists, and has recorded two or more points in six different games. Malkin has seven goals and 14 assists to his name, and has logged a point in 14 games.
On the other side of the ice, Boston is 9-11 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. 11 of its outings have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and none have pushed. This season, the teams 5-5 SU at home.
The Bruins have converted on just 18.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.1 percent of all penalties.
Bruins skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Tuukka Rask (24.7 saves per game) has been the primary selection in goal for the Bruins. Rask has three wins, nine losses, and two overtime losses to his credit and has recorded a subpar .897 save percentage and 2.89 goals against average this season.
David Pastrnak (10 goals, eight assists) will pace the attack for the Bruins.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends:
- The under has hit in four of Boston’s last five outings.
- Boston has allowed 3.0 goals per game overall this season, but has allowed just 1.3 per match up in its last three games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU over that span).
- This game features two of the tougher teams in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have given out the eighth-most hits in the league (22.9 per game) while the Bruins have registered the third-most (25.8).
