Columbus Blue Jackets @ Boston Bruins: UNDER 5 Goals 2.06 BetOnline
Tonight will mark the fifth and final game of this five game home stand for the Boston Bruins. The Bruins have played host to the Stars, Panthers, Maple Leafs, and Lightning since Nov.5 at TD Garden. In those four games so far, the Bruins have allowed only 5 goals, 3 of which came in one game from the Dallas Stars (Bruins lost 3-2 in shootout). 5 goals in 4 games is an average of only 1.25 Goals Against per game for the Bruins. If you take the Dallas game out of the equation, the Bruins have allowed only 2 goals in 3 games which is only .66 goals against per game. In the other 3 games, the Bruins have allowed only two goals: 1 from Florida (4-1 Boston win) and 1 from Toronto (3-1 Boston Win). The Bruins shut-out the Lightning 3-0 in their most recent outing. You may have noticed that in those four games, none of the totals went over 5 goals: two of the games were a “push” ending in exactly 5 goals, and the other two stayed under 5. The Bruins have an excellent goals against average, at a League-leading 1.71 GA/G which is the BEST goals against average in the entire NHL. The Bruins are also doing well on the penalty kill, as they have a 85.2 PK% and they face the Blue Jackets power play unit that can convert only 18.6% of the time (16th for PP%). The Blue Jackets average 2.53 G/G which is 19th overall for goals per game. Also take note to the fact that these teams met once this year already, and it stayed under the total of 5 as the Bruins won 3-1. We will take this excellent price on this UNDER tonight and look for the best defensive team in the NHL to continue to do what they do best at home tonight against Columbus.
Phoenix Coyotes @ Chicago Blackhawks: OVER 5.5 Goals 1.94 BetOnline
Simply put, these two teams are great at scoring goals. We have two of the top six highest scoring teams in the NHL competing against each other tonight. The Blackhawks are scoring an average of 3.56 goals per game, which is second best in the entire National Hockey League, behind only the San Jose Sharks (1st @ 3.61 G/G). The Coyotes are not too far behind, at 3.10 goals per game which is 6th best. Another thing these two clubs share is a terrible Penalty Kill. The Blackhawks are second WORST in the League on the Penalty Kill, as they have a 74.5 PK%. The Coyotes aren’t quite as bad but are still awful, at 78.4 PK% which is 25th or 5th worst in the League. These teams do however have a good power play, and when strong power play units face weak penalty kill units, there is bound to be a few goals on the board. The Coyotes average 11.6 PIM/G and are 20% on the power play (10th overall). The Blackhawks are slightly more disciplined, taking only 8.3 PIM/G. Chicago is converting on 22.2% of their power play opportunities, which is 4th overall. The Coyotes allow exactly 3 goals against per game (24th or 6th worst), and we know that the Blackhawks score an average of 3.56 goals per game. The Blackhawks defense isn’t terrible but it’s far from the Bruins league leading average of 1.71 GA/G. The Blackhawks currently allow 2.61 GA/G (17th overall). As long as both teams continue to score goals tonight, this one should have no problem going over the total of 5.5 goals and we will take the OVER for a good price tonight.
