- What: Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils
- When: Wednesday, December 13th, 7:30 PM EST
- Where: Prudential Center
All eyes will be on Wednesday's massive clash between two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference as the reigning Presidents' Trophy winner Boston Bruins head to the Prudential Center to face the young and exciting New Jersey Devils. The puck will drop at 7:30 PM EST. Boston is one of the top clubs in the league and will come in well-rested, having last played on Saturday in a 5-3 win over the lowly Arizona Coyotes. New Jersey meanwhile lost on Sunday to the Edmonton Oilers, who are starting to turn things around. Keep reading for the Bruins vs Devils picks.
Before we get into the odds and preview, make sure to check out our online sportsbook reviews, and the top NHL betting sites.
Bruins vs Devils Odds
The Bruins have -110 odds here, while the Devils sit at -120. There's really no clear favorite, despite their records being drastically different. However, Boston is riding a six-game winning streak against New Jersey, which is a good sign for what's to come on Wednesday.
Boston is Legit
The Bruins famously choked in the playoffs last season despite their historic campaign and many believed they wouldn't be the same team in 2023-24 after Patrice Bergeron retired. However, it's been the complete opposite. Boston is dominant again and looks more than capable of making a Cup run. At 18-5-3, the Bruins are first in the Atlantic and tied for first in the Eastern Conference with the New York Rangers.
Defensively, Boston is allowing a mere 2.5 goals per game, the third-best mark in the NHL. Offensively, they're also producing. David Pastrnak is proving to be worth every penny with 16 goals and 23 assists to lead the charge, while Brad Marchand's 12 goals and 13 assists are also huge for this group. Charlie Coyle is the third player in double digits, scoring 10 goals to go along with 11 assists. While one could complain that the Bruins' supporting cast isn't doing enough, it's clearly not hurting them at the moment.
Pastrnak propelled his team to victory over the weekend vs Arizona with two goals. Coyle and Kevin Shattenkirk also found the back of the net. Boston was outshot 34-29 by the Coyotes but won the faceoff battle by a mile, 42-18. They also went 1 for 3 on the powerplay and have scored relatively often with the man advantage. Wednesday's matchup marks a two-game road trip in the New York area, also facing the Islanders on Friday.
Devils Could be Better
There are high expectations for New Jersey given their impressive young core and based on the team's Stanley Cup odds, many believe they will be a playoff team in 2023-24. At the moment though, it's tough to see it with a 14-11-1 record, which is fifth in the Metropolitan but 11th in the East. While the Devils are 6-4-0 in their last 10 appearances, they just saw a three-game winning streak come to an end.
The usually unstable Oilers managed to keep NJ at bay in a 4-1 victory, with Connor McDavid scoring and assisting another. The Devils had 27 shots but only beat netminder Calvin Pickard. Winger Jesper Bratt scored the lone goal for the visitors.
Scoring goals hasn't been an issue at all for the Devils though with 3.54 per game, the fourth-best in the NHL. It's their dismal blue line, which definitely needs some upgrades at the rate they're going, allowing 3.62 goals per night. Not ideal. Center Jack Hughes is the leading catalyst offensively with 10 goals and 23 assists, while Bratt has 12 goals and 20 assists. Numerous guys throughout this roster are putting their best foot forward in front of goal, it simply comes down to stopping the opponents from scoring so much. If New Jersey can do that, a playoff run is very much possible.
Bruins vs Devils Picks
Boston is 8-1-1 in their last 10 against the Devils and hasn't lost to them in over two years. Although one could say it's due, I do believe the Bruins will keep it rolling. The confidence will be high in Jersey. Take the visitors on the moneyline. Also, the over has been hit in eight of Boston's previous 12 games and both teams can score the puck. Worth betting on the over as well.
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