David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and the Boston Bruins will face off against Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in an Eastern Conference tilt. NBC Sports Network will air the matchup, which gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 10.
Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh comes into the contest as the favorite with a moneyline of -120. The line for Boston sits at +100, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 to bet the under, +100 for the over).
Boston is 42-26 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. 38 of its matches have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just three have pushed. This 2018-19 Bruins team is 15-16 SU on the road.
Boston enters the match up with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 26.8 percent of its extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, it has the ninth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 81.5 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 25.6 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (24-14-5) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. Rask did just play last night, however, so head coach Bruce Cassidy might opt to rest him and instead go with Jaroslav Halak (18-15-4 record, .924 save percentage, 2.31 goals against average).
Pittsburgh is 36-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 11.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 32 of its outings have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just five have pushed. It’s 19-14 SU as the home team this year.
The Penguins have converted on 24.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.5 percent of all opponent power plays.
Matt Murray (29.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the crease for the Penguins. Murray has 22 wins, 15 losses, and three overtime losses and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average this season.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Two of the Bruins’ last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-1 in those games and 2-3 overall in shootouts this season.
- For both of these clubs, the game went under the total in three of their last five matchups.
- Boston has managed 26.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh is averaging 34.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- This game features two of the more physical teams in the league. Boston skaters have accounted for the league’s 11th-most hits per game (23.2) while the Penguins have handed the second-most (29.1).
