NHL Odds, Prediction, Preview: Bruins vs Devils Pick (Wednesday, December 13)
China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images. Pictured: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins
Bruins vs. Devils Odds
| Bruins Odds | +105 |
| Devils Odds | -126 |
| Over / Under | 6.5 +108 / -132 |
Some of the NHL's brightest stars will be featured in the first game of TNT's doubleheader on Wednesday when the Boston Bruins visit the New Jersey Devils.
The Bruins are defying expectations with another strong season, and David Pastrnak sits among the league's scoring leaders.
For New Jersey, Jack Hughes was off to a spectacular start and is now trying to make up for lost time after missing five games due to a shoulder injury.
Both sides have been playing well in recent games, and the Devils are back home after going 3-1-0 on their Western road trip last week.
While New Jersey is favored on the moneyline, here's why you should look to back the road 'dogs on Wednesday.
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With wins in four of their last five games, Jim Montgomery's Bruins remain the top team in the Atlantic Division.
Once again, goaltending is Boston's biggest strength with Jeremy Swayman's .932 save percentage and 10.0 goals saved above expected looking particularly impressive.
Swayman missed one game last week due to illness, and he then backed up Linus Ullmark in the Bruins' 5-3 win over Arizona last Saturday. He's probably due to get back between the pipes in New Jersey on Wednesday.
In front of the goalies, Boston is a bit shorthanded. Defenseman Derek Forbort is on injured reserve after suffering a lower-body issue last week while Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha are both listed as day-to-day and didn't practice with the team on Tuesday.
Center Jesper Boqvist has been recalled from AHL Providence, but he skated as the 13th forward at Tuesday's practice.
Boston has been in the middle of the pack this season when it comes to expected goals at 5-on-5 (50.88%) and offense (3.31 goals per game), though Pastrnak is having another monster season with 39 points in 26 games. The power play has been clicking at a solid 22.9%, and the penalty kill has been a perfect 18-for-18 over the last five games.
With wins in six of their last eight, the Devils have made up some ground in the standings and are now knocking at the door of a wild-card spot.
Dougie Hamilton and Tomas Nosek are out long-term, but New Jersey's improved play coincides with getting Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes back into the mix.
Hischier has 10 points in eight games since returning from his upper-body injury. Hughes has 13 points in 11 games, but he was held off the scoresheet in the last three games of the Devils' Western road swing.
New Jersey has also gotten a boost from the call-up of defenseman Simon Nemec in the wake of Hamilton's injury. The 19-year-old hasn't looked out of place in his first five NHL games while averaging 20:32 while putting up three points.
Erik Haula missed Sunday's 4-1 loss in Edmonton with an upper-body issue. However, he was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, so he should be back in his usual spot with Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz against the Bruins.
At 32.6%, the Devils have the best power play in the league — but it has been blanked in the last three games. New Jersey is also one of the highest-scoring teams and has a strong puck possession game, controlling 53.5% of expected goals at 5-on-5.
Goaltending has been an issue, but both Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have been playing better in recent games.
Bruins vs. Devils
Betting Pick & Prediction
Wednesday will mark the first meeting of the year between Boston and New Jersey. Last season, the Bruins won all three matchups by a combined score of 9-5.
Boston's also a bit better rested, having played last on Saturday. And while the absence of McAvoy and Zacha is a bit of a concern, the Bruins have shown they can get by without key players. Earlier this season, they went 3-1-0 while McAvoy was serving a four-game suspension.
The Devils need points, but this is a tough matchup for their first game back home after a four-in-six trip out West.
With Boston opening as slight underdogs at +105, that moneyline bet offers decent value for one of the best teams in the league.
Pick: Bruins moneyline (+105) | Play down to -120
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