Welcome back to NHL Predictions with Last Word on Hockey. Here, we provide in-depth insight into the best matchups around the NHL. Today, we dive into the Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils. Be sure to check out all our writers on NHL Predictions throughout the entire season.
Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils
Head-to-Head: Devils lead 1-0-0
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: MSG, NESN
The Bruins and Devils will battle for the second time this season on Tuesday. New Jersey won the first meeting of the year back on January 22 by a 5-1 score. Dawson Mercer scored two goals in the win, while Nico Hischier posted three points. The Devils went 3-for-7 on the power play that night, also getting tallies from Dougie Hamilton and Stephen Noesen. Jake Allen secured the win after stopping all 16 shots he faced in relief. Earlier in the game, Jacob Markstrom was injured after being collided with in the crease. Morgan Geekie scored the lone Boston goal.
It has been a rough stretch for the Bruins this season, and it has only continued to get worse through March. Boston has dropped 11 of their last 12 contests and dropped to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. It has been a long fall from where the Bruins were only two years ago. Boston is 29th in goals scored at 2.63 and 26th in goals allowed at 3.31.
David Pastrnak continues to be one of the best scorers in the NHL. Marred by the Bruins struggles, Pastrnak is three points shy of posting his third straight 100-point season. He recorded his fourth straight 40-goal season with a hat trick effort on April 5th. Morgan Geekie continues to be a bright spot in a breakout season for Boston. His 29 goals and 51 points are both new career highs. He had a career-best five points in the Bruins recent win over Carolina on April 5.
While the Bruins have had trouble generating offense this season, their goaltending is not doing any better. Jeremy Swayman has struggled since signing on as the Bruins starting goaltender after beating out Linus Ullmark in the offseason. Swayman holds a .895 save percentage. His 3.08 GAA is over half a goal more than his next worst season. The Bruins were eliminated from postseason contention and look to play spoiler over the final two weeks.
The Devils only need a single point to claim a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It would be the Devils’ third playoff appearance since 2011-12. The Devils are the only team in the NHL to have held a postseason spot for the entire season.
Since Jack Hughes went down with a season-ending injury, numerous Devils have stepped up in his absence. Jesper Bratt has a career-high 88 points anchored behind a franchise record 67 assists and counting. Nico Hischier is once again in the Selke Trophy conversation and has added a career-high 35 goals.
The Devils continue to be a heavy presence on the back end with one of the best defensive units in the league. Despite losing Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton, the Devils haven’t missed a beat. Luke Hughes is having the best stretch of his young career since returning from the 4-Nations break. Jacob Markstrom appears to be back to his pre-injury form, stopped 76 of 80 shots over the last three games.
The Devils will enter Tuesday most likely being heavy favorites over the struggling Bruins. A win will lock the Devils into their postseason spot. New Jersey should want to get the clincher out of the way and leave the final four games as a chance to clean up any rough edges before meeting the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. Expect the Devils to come out hot and motivated early. It could be a night to celebrate in Newark.
Prediction: 5-1 New Jersey
The Devils are -270 entering the game. That is by no means a money-making line, but the Devils being +110 to cover a -1.5 spread should be a no-doubter. As for a goal scorer take notice of Nico Hischier. Having the captain lead the Devils into the postseason with a tally would be a fitting night.
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland- Imagn Images
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