Boston Bruins vs Winnipeg Jets: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

Where: Bell MTS Place – Winnipeg, MB., Canada.

When: Thursday, March 14, 8PM EST.

How (TV/Radio): TSN 3, NESN | TSN 1290, WBZFM 98.5.

Boston Bruins (Away)

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy {All-Time 157-929-9-29 BOS, WSH}

The Boston Bruins recently had their 19-point game streak ended by the Pittsburgh Penguins but it was enough to push them up to second place in the Eastern conference – just behind the dominant and ultimately uncatchable Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bruins are 8-1-1 in their last ten games at the time of writing – the lone loss coming to the Pens. They are 42-18-9 on the season thus far.

Boston comes in with a mostly healthy roster. David Pastrnak is still out with a thumb injury but it’s safe to say that the Bruins have found a way to make it work. Offensively, Boston holds a few advantages over their quite formidable opponents. Boston is eighth in the league for shots on goal, third in the league on the powerplay and sixth in the league on faceoffs.

The Bruins hold even bigger advantages when it comes to defensive play against the Jets. Boston is second in the league in goals against; allowing just 2.46 per game on average. They are also ninth overall in shots against and ninth overall on the penalty kill. The Bruins also hold a very respectable 15-11-6 record on the road.

Goaltender Jaroslav Halak is expected to get the start for the Boston Bruins in this matchup. Halak is 18-10-4 on the season. His goals-against average is 2.34 and his save percentage is .924. He has managed four shutouts so far this season.

Winnipeg Jets (Home)

Head Coach: Paul Maurice {All-Time 688-613-99-115 WPG, CAR, TOR, HAR}

Post-trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets have worked their way up to third place in the Western Conference. They are 402404 on the season but have struggled in their last ten games going only 4-5-1 at the time of writing.

Statistically, the Jets hold the advantages in this game in goals scored (sixth overall compared to Boston’s 16th) and shooting percentage (sixth overall compared to Boston’s 19th).

Defensively is where the Jets could struggle in this matchup as they rank under 35th in the league in most major stats including shots allowed, penalty minutes taken, and penalty kill. Some of this can be attributed to the fact that Winnipeg has been without star defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.

Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start in goal for the Jets. Hellebuyck is 28-29-2 on the season with a goals against average of 2.97 and a save percentage of .910. He has yet to register a shutout this season.

These two teams last met on January 29, 2019. It was the Winnipeg Jets who came out on top over the Boston Bruins in a tightly battled game that has a final score of 4-3. Luckily, the Winnipeg Jets hold a 22-8-4 home record this season.

What’s At Stake?

Both teams seemed primed to make the playoffs. Currently, the Winnipeg Jets are nine points above the final wildcard spot.

Boston, although the more dominant team, could use the two points from a victory a little more than the Jets as the Eastern Conference, on average, tends to be the tighter conference. They are currently ten points above a wildcard spot, but that spot is currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins – a team always capable of putting together a strong run of their own.

Questions to answer

Will Winnipeg’s home-ice advantage be enough to topple the surging Boston Bruins?

Will Boston’s defensive play be too much for Winnipeg to bust through and put together any sort of offensive momentum?

How much of a role will special teams play in this matchup?

Boston Bruins Injury Report

D Matt Grzelcyk – day-to-day (arm)

F Jake DeBrusk – day-to-day (lower-body)

F Marcus Johansson – day-to-day (lung contusion)

D Kevan Miller – day-to-day (upper-body)

F David Pastrnak – IR (thumb)

D Urho Vaakanainen – IR (concussion)

Winnipeg Jets Injury Report

D Josh Morrissey – day-to-day (upper-body)

D Dustin Byfuglien – IR (lower-body)

D Joe Morrow – IR (lower-body)

C Matt Hendricks – day-to-day (upper-body)

Boston Bruins at Winnipeg Jets Predictions and Odds

The odds will be updated as they are made available.