The Boston Bruins have hit a wall of late, dropping four of their past six games. The lone victories were by one-goal margins against underwhelming opponents in the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. Luckily for them, they’re hosting a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has dropped seven of the last 10 while bleeding goals in the process.
My Blue Jackets vs. Bruins predictions see captain Brad Marchand leading the charge for Boston in a great matchup to right the ship. Let’s take a closer look with my NHL picks for November 18.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins prediction
My best bet
Brad Marchand Over 2.5 shots on goal (-113 at FanDuel)
My analysis
Brad Marchand is on an epic run shooting the puck. He’s cleared 2.5 shots on goal in eight of his past 10 games, failing only against the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues. Those don’t appear to be tough opponents on the surface, but both rank in the top half of the league in overall shot suppression over the last 10 games. They’ve been competent — at least in terms of keeping volume down.
Marchand has averaged more than six attempts per game during this run. He is accurate with his shots — he has a 75% hit rate this season when generating at least four attempts — so he doesn’t need the same kind of volume as a lot of players. A handful of shots each night gives him a great chance of going over the number.
There is plenty of reason to expect that from Marchand on Monday night. His volume has been better on home ice, where he averages 5.7 attempts compared to 5.1 on the road.
He continues to skate on a line with Elias Lindholm and Justin Brazeau, who he averages upwards of 20 attempts per 60 minutes alongside. He’s also a focal point of the power play, ranking second to Pastrnak in shots while generating more chances than anybody on the roster.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were pretty stingy earlier in the season but they’re looking more exploitable by the day. They rank fifth in 5-on-5 pace and 18th in shot suppression over the last 10 games. Their season totals see them 12th in pace and ninth in shot suppression, so they’re clearly heading in the wrong direction.
A lot of the shots they’ve given up of late have come to wingers attacking from the flanks. Only the Sharks, Ducks, and Blues have given up more shots per game to wingers over the last 10.
Marchand hasn’t failed to record three shots in back-to-back games since the middle of October. He should once again rebound in this advantageous spot.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins same-game parlay (SGP)
Brad Marchand Over 2.5 shots on goal
Brad Marchand Over 0.5 points
Brandon Carlo Over 1.5 blocked shots
The Blue Jackets have given up shots and chances at a much higher rate of late while playing plenty of high-event games. Given their underwhelming goaltending tandem, that has naturally led to a noticeable uptick in goals against.
Columbus has conceded at least four goals in six of the past eight games, allowing a league-leading 36 goals over that span. Coming off back-to-back defeats, it’s reasonable to expect a strong effort from the Boston Bruins in this game with their captain leading the charge.
Brandon Carlo has blocked multiple shots in 68% of his games this season. He’s in a good spot to do so again vs. a Columbus team that ranks fourth in shot-generation over the past 10 games. They should attempt plenty of shots — particularly if they’re trailing — which sets up a positive game script for Carlo to eat pucks.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Blue Jackets vs Bruins odds
Blue Jackets vs Bruins live odds
Blue Jackets vs Bruins opening odds
- Puck line: Columbus +1.5 (-130) | Boston -1.5 (+115)
- Moneyline: Columbus +193 | Boston -223
- Over/Under: Over 6 (-121) | Under 6 (+105)
Blue Jackets vs Bruins trend
Brad Marchand has recorded at least three shots in three of his last four against Columbus. Find more NHL betting trends for Blue Jackets vs. Bruins.
How to watch Blue Jackets vs Bruins
| Location: | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Date: | Monday, 11-18-2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSNOH, NESN |
Blue Jackets vs Bruins latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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