Rogers Arena is the site for a cross-continent tilt as the Boston Bruins take the ice against the Vancouver Canucks. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. Sportsnet will broadcast the game, and the puck drops at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 17.
Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks Odds
Boston (+160) is currently the underdog to Boston (-180) and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-125 for the over, +105 for the under).
Boston is 35-20 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 55 regular season outings, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 25 have gone over and just one has pushed. As the away team this season, the Bruins are 16-9 SU.
Boston has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s good enough for eighth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, it has the second-best penalty kill in the league, and it’s successfully killed off a whopping 84.3 percent of its penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.9 times per game in the 2017-18 season, 4.2 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.0 per game over its last five games as the visiting team. The teams had to kill penalties 11.2 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Boasting a .924 save percentage and 25.4 saves per game, Tuukka Rask (23-14-4) has been the top option in goal for Boston this year. If Boston decides to rest him, however, head coach Bruce Cassidy might turn to Anton Khudobin (12-8-4 record, .925 save percentage, 2.32 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Bruins. Marchand (54 points) has tallied 21 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 17 different games. Bergeron has 27 goals and 24 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 30 games).
Over on the other bench, Vancouver is 22-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.3 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 33 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 10-18 SU at home this year.
The Canucks have converted on just 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Canucks players have been penalized 3.8 times per game in total this season, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The teams been forced to defend opponent power plays just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom (26.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Canucks. Markstrom has 16 wins, 27 losses, and five overtime losses to his name and has registered a subpar .908 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average this year.
The home team will be led on offense by Brock Boeser (27 goals, 22 assists).
Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Boston is 3-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vancouver is 0-3 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Vancouver’s last five outings.
- Seven of Boston’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 5-2 in those games.
- Boston skaters have given out the leagues eighth-most hits per game (24.0), but that numbers down to just 19.8 hits over their last five away games.
