PREMIUM
Rogers' ICE BREAKER >> SIZZLING 20-8 L28 NHL Sides!
(NHL) Boston vs. Ottawa,
Money Line: -165.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -165.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 20-10-6 Boston Bruins fell 4-3 in a shootout at Washington on Thursday but will head to Ottawa Saturday for a game with the 12-16-8 Senators riding a seven-game point streak (5-0-2). Ottawa is coming off a 5-4 home triumph over Columbus on Friday, in which it overcame a 3-1 deficit by scoring four consecutive goals. Mark Stone netted a tally and set up another as the Senators halted a four-game slide that included a 5-1 setback at Boston just this past Wednesday.
Boston: The Bruins' 46 points has them sitting in third-place in the Atlantic Division. David Backes continued his surge in Thursday's loss, scoring a pair of goals for his third consecutive two-point performance. The right winger has collected three goals and three assists during Boston's 5-0-2 run. Tuukka Rask has been a beast in the crease of late, going 9-0-1 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in his last 10 starts. "I'm seeing the puck well, making saves," Rask told the team's website after Friday's practice. "As a team, we've played very good hockey, and as I've said before, that's very helpful for goalies. When they clear out the bodies in front of you and if there's any rebounds, they clear out the rebound as well. That's a big part of it."
Ottawa: While the Bruins are currently in good playoff positioning, the Senators' 32 points leaves them 7th in the eight-team Atlantic and well behind in the wild card chase. Mark Stone leads the team with 34 points (15 G / 19 A) and while seemingly unhappy regarding his upcoming contract negotiations, Karlsson is second with 25 points (3 G / 22 A). However, Mike Hoffman (third-leading scorer) has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last four contests and enters Saturday with a 12-game goal-scoring drought. Stone's goal in Friday's win against the Blue Jackets was his first in 13 games but did give him nine points over his last eight contests.
The pick: The Senators surprised the Bruins 4-2 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring and the Bruins remembered just this past Wednesday, winning 5-1 in Boston. I don't believe the change in venue will help Ottawa much and it's surely no help that the Senators are playing the second of back-to-back games.Boston goalie Rusk is on a roll (see above) and I'm making the Bruins an 8* play.
Boston: The Bruins' 46 points has them sitting in third-place in the Atlantic Division. David Backes continued his surge in Thursday's loss, scoring a pair of goals for his third consecutive two-point performance. The right winger has collected three goals and three assists during Boston's 5-0-2 run. Tuukka Rask has been a beast in the crease of late, going 9-0-1 with a 1.41 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in his last 10 starts. "I'm seeing the puck well, making saves," Rask told the team's website after Friday's practice. "As a team, we've played very good hockey, and as I've said before, that's very helpful for goalies. When they clear out the bodies in front of you and if there's any rebounds, they clear out the rebound as well. That's a big part of it."
Ottawa: While the Bruins are currently in good playoff positioning, the Senators' 32 points leaves them 7th in the eight-team Atlantic and well behind in the wild card chase. Mark Stone leads the team with 34 points (15 G / 19 A) and while seemingly unhappy regarding his upcoming contract negotiations, Karlsson is second with 25 points (3 G / 22 A). However, Mike Hoffman (third-leading scorer) has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last four contests and enters Saturday with a 12-game goal-scoring drought. Stone's goal in Friday's win against the Blue Jackets was his first in 13 games but did give him nine points over his last eight contests.
The pick: The Senators surprised the Bruins 4-2 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring and the Bruins remembered just this past Wednesday, winning 5-1 in Boston. I don't believe the change in venue will help Ottawa much and it's surely no help that the Senators are playing the second of back-to-back games.Boston goalie Rusk is on a roll (see above) and I'm making the Bruins an 8* play.
