Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils - Odds and Predictions

Where: Prudential Center – Newark, N.J.

When: Tuesday, November 19, 7 PM EST

How (TV/Radio): NESN, MSG | WFAN

Boston Bruins (Away)

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy{All-Time 176-102-9-34 BOS, WSH}

Although sitting second in the league with a 12-3-5 record and 29 points, if there was ever a game to bet against the Bruins, it could be this one.

Star forward Patrice Bergeron is a game-time decision and star defenseman Torey Krug may not return until next week.

This could be a rough week for the Bruins who are often criticized for not having enough depth in their lineup.

Offense

The Bruins are suffering from more than several injuries but most of their offense is coming from just David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand.

As long as those two are healthy (and they are) the Bruins will always have a significant chance of winning a hockey game.

Boston has the sixth-most goals scored in the league and the sixth-best shooting percentage at 11 percent.

The team also has a league-leading power-play unit that boasts a 30.51 percent success rate. Pastrnak and Marchand both sit in the league’s top-five with 32 points each.

For more on NHL, check out who are the favorites to win the 2020 Stanley Cup.

Defense

The Bruins are just as strong, if not stronger, on the defensive end of things.

Injuries aside, Boston enters this game as the team that has allowed the third-fewest goals against in the NHL.

They have a penalty-killing percentage of 83.6 – the ninth-best in the league.

Boston’s weakness and one they need to get under control against New Jersey is the amount of time they spend in the penalty box.

The Bruins average just shy of ten penalty minutes per game. With a depleted roster, they may not have the energy it takes to kill off that many minutes.

Goaltending

It is expected that the best goalie in the league (statistically), Tuukka Rask, will be getting the start between the pipes for the Boston Bruins.

Rask has gone 8-2-2 on the season and has put together a goals-against-average of 2.14. He has a .927 save percentage and two shutouts.

Head Coach: John Hynes{All-Time 148-154-45 NJD}

If the New Jersey Devils were ever to have a competitive shot against the Bruins, it’s within this game.

The Devils need to take advantage of the weakened and injured Bruins lineup and use their youth to push the pace and test the depth of Boston’s roster.

Offense

Looking at the standings, you may think the Devils don’t stand a chance.

But these two teams have nearly identical records across their last ten games and the New Jersey Devils are riding a two-game winning streak.

But there is still work to do. The New Jersey Devils have scored the second-least goals this season with a combined 43.

The team also has the fourth-fewest shots in the league and the eighth-worst shooting percentage. Their power play sits within the bottom-four in the league as well with a 12.9 percent success rate.

Defense

There is a little more optimism when it comes to the defensive side of things for New Jersey.

For one, the Devils have allowed the fewest shots against in the NHL with a total of just 501.

Their penalty kill ranks higher than their power play but will need to be at its best against a team like Boston.

Luckily the Devils don’t average an absurd amount of penalty minutes per game.

Goaltending

Facing off against Rask in the goalie showdown is expected to be MacKenzie Blackwood as the New Jersey Devils have placed Corey Schneider on waivers.

Blackwood has a season record of 7-4-3, a GAA of 2.79, a save percentage of .904, and has registered one shutout this season.

These two Eastern Conference teams last went head-to-head back on October 12. The Boston Bruins managed to shut out the Devils with a final score of 3-0.

What’s at Stake?

This is a big game for the New Jersey Devils to make a statement against one of the most dominant teams in the league.

After placing goaltender Corey Schneider on waivers, the Devils have already made a statement off the ice.

Now it’s time to do it one the ice. There is no better time than now as the Boston Bruins are in rough shape this week.

The two teams are nearly identical in their last ten games and these would be two big points for the Devils.

Questions to Answer

Will the New Jersey Devils be able to take advantage of the weakened state oft he Bruins lineup and exhaust them with their speed?

Will they be able to beat goalie Tuukka Rask?

Will the critics of Boston’s roster depth be silenced with a Bruins victory or will they be proven right with a loss to one of the league’s worst teams?

Will Boston’s players listed as day-to-day, including Patrice Bergeron, make it to the ice for game time?

Boston Bruins Injury Report

F Patrice Bergeron – day-to-day (lower-body)

D John Moore – IR/NR (shoulder)

F David Backes – DL (upper-body)

D Kevan Miller – IR/NR (kneecap)

D Torey Krug – DL (upper-body)

F Anton Blidh – IR/NR (shoulder)

F Jake DeBrusk – DL (lower-body)

F Zach Senshyn – DL (lower-body)

F Karson Kuhlman – DL (leg)

New Jersey Devils Injury Report

D Connor Carrick – DL (finger)

F Kevin Rooney – OUT (upper-body)

Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils – Game Odds

The odds for this match between the Bruins and the Devils are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.

Good luck!

Money Line