Coming into the matchup with four wins apiece in the series Columbus Blue Jackets and the Boston Bruins collide at TD Garden in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The game will get going at 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 4, and you will be able to see this Eastern Conference matchup live on NBC.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins Odds
Boston comes into the game as the favorite with a moneyline of -135. The line for Columbus sits at +115, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-130 to bet the under, +110 for the over).
The Bruins are 55-38 straight-up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 1.3 units this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the NHL in this young season, is right in line with the 50-32 record the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Out of the team’s 93 regular season outings, 51 of them have gone under the total, while 38 have gone over and just four have pushed. The team’s 32-15 SU at home this season.
Boston’s offense attempted 33.1 shots per game in the regular season, resulting in 3.1 goals per contest (ranked 11th overall in the NHL). In the postseason, the club is risen to an average of 36.3 shots on goal 3.0 goals per game.
After producing the third-best power-play unit in the regular season (finding net on 26.5 percent of all opportunities), the Bruins have been able to score on 31.3 percent of their power plays in the postseason. Their penalty kill has gone from 80.0 percent in the regular season to 80.6 percent in the playoffs.
Averaging 25.8 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (33 wins, 24 losses, and six OT losses) has been the most dependable option in goal for the Bruins this year. If the Bruins choose to give him the night off, however, it could turn to Jaroslav Halak (22-18-18 record, .922 save percentage, 2.34 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak will each spearhead the attack for the Bruins. Marchand (110 points) has tallied 40 goals and 70 assists and has recorded multiple points on 34 different occasions this year. Pastrnak has 42 goals and 48 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 49 contests.
Columbus has earned moneyline bettors 8.6 units this season and is currently 53-37 straight up (SU). Through 90 regular season outings, 51 of its games have gone under the total, while 33 have gone over and just six have pushed. Columbus’ 28-17 SU as a road team this season.
Columbus has converted on just 17.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s ranked 28th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Columbus’ skaters have been penalized only 2.9 times per game this season, 3.4 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (.916 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Columbus. Bobrovsky is averaging 26.5 saves per game and owns a 43-27-2 record.
For the visiting Blue Jackets, the offense will run through Artemi Panarin, who has 64 assists and 33 goals this season.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Boston Bruins Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Bruins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these teams, the total has gone under in four of their last five matchups.
- Columbus has managed 28.6 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Boston is averaging 34.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Penalties and power plays could have a key role in this one. The Blue Jackets are 28-13 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 45-29 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Bruins are 27-17 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 38-25 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- Boston is ranked 6th with 8.5 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower, however, as it has created 6.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.0 takeaways over its last five.
- Columbus is ranked 16th with 7.7 takeaways per game. That figure has trended upward, as the team has averaged 9.1 takeaways over its last 10 games and 9.8 takeaways over its last five.
