The Boston Bruins are playing the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday as they prepare to face the spiralling Chicago Blackhawks.
It’s a quick turnaround for Boston after they slipped past Detroit 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday. The Blackhawks have been off since Monday when they lost a third straight game, 4-1 in Toronto.
The Bruins are -155 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Bruins vs. Blackhawks NHL Betting Odds
Boston swept the season series last year, outscoring Chicago a combined 6-1 across the two games. Connor Bedard scored his first career NHL goal against the Bruins, but that was the extent of the offence the Blackhawks were able to muster in the series.
Neither team has paid bettors this year, but Boston has been a particularly horrendous cover option at 6-21 against the spread, the worst mark in the NHL. Chicago has been a bit better at 12-13 ATS, but it’s still been more profitable to fade the Hawks.
You can likely expect a low scoring game on Wednesday as the total has gone Under in 11 of Chicago’s last 13 games and five of Boston’s last seven. That makes sense given these are two of the lowest scoring teams in the NHL. The Blackhawks average 2.44 goals per game, ranking 31st, while the Bruins average 2.48 goals, ranking 30th.
Boston Bruins
Nikita Zadorov and Justin Brazeau scored in regulation on Tuesday, while Pavel Zacha buried the winner a little over two minutes into overtime as the Bruins improved to 5-2 under interim head coach Joe Sacco. Brazeau’s game-tying goal midway through the third period came on the man adavtnage, which is big for Boston considering they have the 31st-ranked power play unit in the NHL, converting in just 12.4 per cent of opportunities.
With Joonas Korpisalo playing on Tuesday, it will be Jeremy Swayman getting the nod on Wednesday. At 7-9-2 with a 3.09 goals-against average and .892 save percentage, it’s been a tough start to the year for Swayman after he missed training camp and all of the pre-season in a contract stalemate. Swayman seems to have figured things out, however, as he has a 1.78 GAA and .929 SV over his last four starts.
Chicago Blackhawks
Lukas Reichel scored the lone goal for the Blackhawks on Monday, while Connor Bedard was held without a point for the 14th time in 25 games this season. Bedard, who leads Chicago with 19 points (5G, 14A), is having a serious sophomore slump while struggling to find players to generate offence with. Bedard, Ryan Donato (10G, 5A) and Teuvo Teravainen (6G, 6A) are the only Hawks players with at least 12 points on the year.
Arvid Soderblom stopped 18 of 21 shots faced against Toronto, but it will be Petr Mrazek in net against Boston. Mrazek is looking to rebound after losing his last two starts, while stopping just 56 of 64 shots (.875 SV). Overall, however, Mrazek has been solid this season with a 2.79 GAA and .908 SV. His losing record of 7-10-1 reflects more on Chicago’s play as a team rather than Mrazek’s performance.
NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Bruins vs. Blackhawks?
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BRUINS
3 -
BLACKHAWKS
1
Score
Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 3 Dec 9:03pm | - | - | O +5.5 -115 |
| Closing 5 Dec 2:54am | - | - | U +7.5 -350 |
- Regular Season
Bruins Team Leaders
| Points |
51 |
| + / - |
9 |
| Shots |
193 |
| Penalty Mins |
91 |
| Wins |
15 |
| GAA |
2.86 |
| Points |
41 |
| + / - |
0 |
| Shots |
110 |
| Penalty Mins |
65 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
2.92 |
- Regular Season
Blackhawks Team Leaders
| Points |
51 |
| + / - |
9 |
| Shots |
193 |
| Penalty Mins |
91 |
| Wins |
15 |
| GAA |
2.86 |
| Points |
41 |
| + / - |
0 |
| Shots |
110 |
| Penalty Mins |
65 |
| Wins |
9 |
| GAA |
2.92 |
Injuries
Trent Frederic (C)
Cole Koepke (LW)
Charlie Coyle (C)
Mark Kastelic (C)
David Pastrnak (RW)
Jakub Lauko (C)
David Pastrnak (RW)
Jakub Lauko (C)
Mark Kastelic (C)
Tyler Johnson (C)
Patrick Maroon (LW)
Craig Smith (RW)
Connor Murphy (D)
Nick Foligno (LW)
Craig Smith (RW)
Petr Mrazek (G)
Alec Martinez (D)
Jason Dickinson (C)
Petr Mrazek (G)
Seth Jones (D)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Frederic (C) | Out Mon | Illness - 20 / 01 / 25 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Frederic is dealing with an illness, and he is not expected to play against the Sharks on Monday. |
|||||
| Cole Koepke (LW) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 17 / 01 / 25 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Koepke has been placed on injured reserve with a upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Charlie Coyle (C) | Ques Tues | Illness - 14 / 01 / 25 | 3-0 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Coyle is ailing with an illness, and it is up in the air if he will suit up against the Lighting on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Mark Kastelic (C) | Out indefinitely | Upper Body - 13 / 01 / 25 | 3-0 | 3-0 | + - |
|
Kastelic has been placed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| David Pastrnak (RW) | Ques Fri | Upper Body - 24 / 12 / 24 | 6-6 | 6-6 | + - |
|
Pastrnak left the previous game with an upper-body injury, and it is up in the air if he will play Friday's contest against the Blue Jackets. |
|||||
| Jakub Lauko (C) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 14 / 12 / 24 | 9-8 | 9-8 | + - |
|
Lauko has wound up on the injured reserve with a lower body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| David Pastrnak (RW) | Ques Tue | Upper Body - 09 / 12 / 24 | 9-10 | 11-8 | + - |
|
Pastrnak is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play Tuesday's contest against the Jets. |
|||||
| Jakub Lauko (C) | Out indefinitely | Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24 | 12-14 | 14-12 | + - |
|
Lauko has been placed on the injured reserve, and it is not known when he will return. |
|||||
| Mark Kastelic (C) | Ques Thurs | Lower Body - 16 / 11 / 24 | 12-18 | 15-14-1 | + - |
|
Kastelic exited the contest with a lower body injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress against the Hockey Club on Thursday. |
|||||
| Tyler Johnson (C) | Ques Mon | Personal - 16 / 11 / 24 | 12-18 | 15-14-1 | + - |
|
Johnson is dealing with a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will get back on ice against the Blue Jackets on Monday. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Maroon (LW) | Out Mon | Back - 20 / 01 / 25 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Maroon is dealing with a back injury, and he will not play against the Hurricanes on Monday. |
|||||
| Craig Smith (RW) | Ques Mon | Back - 09 / 01 / 25 | 4-3 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Smith is dealing with a back injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Hurricanes on Monday. |
|||||
| Connor Murphy (D) | Out indefinitely | Groin - 02 / 01 / 25 | 5-4 | 6-2-1 | + - |
|
Murphy has been placed on the injured reserve with a groin injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time. |
|||||
| Nick Foligno (LW) | Ques Tues | Illness - 15 / 12 / 24 | 9-8 | 10-5-2 | + - |
|
Foligno is ailing with an illness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Capitals on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Craig Smith (RW) | Out indefinitely | Back - 13 / 12 / 24 | 11-8 | 11-6-2 | + - |
|
Smith is placed on the injured reserve list with a back injury, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| Petr Mrazek (G) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 07 / 12 / 24 | 11-10 | 13-6-2 | + - |
|
Mrazek is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle. |
|||||
| Alec Martinez (D) | Out indefinitely | Neck - 07 / 12 / 24 | 11-10 | 13-6-2 | + - |
|
Martinez has been placed on the injured reserve with a neck injury, and his return is unknown. |
|||||
| Jason Dickinson (C) | Ques Sat | Hand - 22 / 11 / 24 | 15-13 | 15-11-2 | + - |
|
Dickinson is managing a hand injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against the Flyers on Saturday. |
|||||
| Petr Mrazek (G) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 19 / 11 / 24 | 15-14 | 15-12-2 | + - |
|
Mrazek has been sidelined due to an personal reason, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
| Seth Jones (D) | Late Dec | Foot - 16 / 11 / 24 | 15-15 | 15-13-2 | + - |
|
Jones has been placed on the injured reserve list with a right foot injury, and team officials say he is expected to miss four weeks. |
|||||
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 3 Dec 9:03pm - - O +5.5 -115 Closing 5 Dec 2:54am - - U +7.5 -350 -
- Regular Season
Bruins Team Leaders
Points 51
+ / - 9
Shots 193
Penalty Mins 91
Wins 15
GAA 2.86
Points 41
+ / - 0
Shots 110
Penalty Mins 65
Wins 9
GAA 2.92
-
- Regular Season
Blackhawks Team Leaders
Points 51
+ / - 9
Shots 193
Penalty Mins 91
Wins 15
GAA 2.86
Points 41
+ / - 0
Shots 110
Penalty Mins 65
Wins 9
GAA 2.92
-
Injuries
Trent Frederic (C)
Out Mon Illness - 20 / 01 / 25Cole Koepke (LW)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 17 / 01 / 25Charlie Coyle (C)
Ques Tues Illness - 14 / 01 / 25Mark Kastelic (C)
Out indefinitely Upper Body - 13 / 01 / 25David Pastrnak (RW)
Ques Fri Upper Body - 24 / 12 / 24Jakub Lauko (C)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 14 / 12 / 24David Pastrnak (RW)
Ques Tue Upper Body - 09 / 12 / 24Jakub Lauko (C)
Out indefinitely Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24Mark Kastelic (C)
Ques Thurs Lower Body - 16 / 11 / 24Tyler Johnson (C)
Ques Mon Personal - 16 / 11 / 24Patrick Maroon (LW)
Out Mon Back - 20 / 01 / 25Craig Smith (RW)
Ques Mon Back - 09 / 01 / 25Connor Murphy (D)
Out indefinitely Groin - 02 / 01 / 25Nick Foligno (LW)
Ques Tues Illness - 15 / 12 / 24Craig Smith (RW)
Out indefinitely Back - 13 / 12 / 24Petr Mrazek (G)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 07 / 12 / 24Alec Martinez (D)
Out indefinitely Neck - 07 / 12 / 24Jason Dickinson (C)
Ques Sat Hand - 22 / 11 / 24Petr Mrazek (G)
Out indefinitely Personal - 19 / 11 / 24Seth Jones (D)
Late Dec Foot - 16 / 11 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Trent Frederic (C) Out Mon Illness - 20 / 01 / 25 1-0 1-0 + - Frederic is dealing with an illness, and he is not expected to play against the Sharks on Monday.
Cole Koepke (LW) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 17 / 01 / 25 2-0 2-0 + - Koepke has been placed on injured reserve with a upper body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Charlie Coyle (C) Ques Tues Illness - 14 / 01 / 25 3-0 3-0 + - Coyle is ailing with an illness, and it is up in the air if he will suit up against the Lighting on Tuesday.
Mark Kastelic (C) Out indefinitely Upper Body - 13 / 01 / 25 3-0 3-0 + - Kastelic has been placed on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury, and there is no timetable for return.
David Pastrnak (RW) Ques Fri Upper Body - 24 / 12 / 24 6-6 6-6 + - Pastrnak left the previous game with an upper-body injury, and it is up in the air if he will play Friday's contest against the Blue Jackets.
Jakub Lauko (C) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 14 / 12 / 24 9-8 9-8 + - Lauko has wound up on the injured reserve with a lower body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
David Pastrnak (RW) Ques Tue Upper Body - 09 / 12 / 24 9-10 11-8 + - Pastrnak is dealing with an upper body injury, and it is unclear if he will play Tuesday's contest against the Jets.
Jakub Lauko (C) Out indefinitely Lower Body - 26 / 11 / 24 12-14 14-12 + - Lauko has been placed on the injured reserve, and it is not known when he will return.
Mark Kastelic (C) Ques Thurs Lower Body - 16 / 11 / 24 12-18 15-14-1 + - Kastelic exited the contest with a lower body injury, and it is uncertain if he will dress against the Hockey Club on Thursday.
Tyler Johnson (C) Ques Mon Personal - 16 / 11 / 24 12-18 15-14-1 + - Johnson is dealing with a personal matter, and it is unclear if he will get back on ice against the Blue Jackets on Monday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Patrick Maroon (LW) Out Mon Back - 20 / 01 / 25 1-0 1-0 + - Maroon is dealing with a back injury, and he will not play against the Hurricanes on Monday.
Craig Smith (RW) Ques Mon Back - 09 / 01 / 25 4-3 5-2 + - Smith is dealing with a back injury, and it is unclear if he will play against the Hurricanes on Monday.
Connor Murphy (D) Out indefinitely Groin - 02 / 01 / 25 5-4 6-2-1 + - Murphy has been placed on the injured reserve with a groin injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Nick Foligno (LW) Ques Tues Illness - 15 / 12 / 24 9-8 10-5-2 + - Foligno is ailing with an illness, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Capitals on Tuesday.
Craig Smith (RW) Out indefinitely Back - 13 / 12 / 24 11-8 11-6-2 + - Smith is placed on the injured reserve list with a back injury, and there is no timetable for return.
Petr Mrazek (G) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 07 / 12 / 24 11-10 13-6-2 + - Mrazek is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear how long he will be idle.
Alec Martinez (D) Out indefinitely Neck - 07 / 12 / 24 11-10 13-6-2 + - Martinez has been placed on the injured reserve with a neck injury, and his return is unknown.
Jason Dickinson (C) Ques Sat Hand - 22 / 11 / 24 15-13 15-11-2 + - Dickinson is managing a hand injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against the Flyers on Saturday.
Petr Mrazek (G) Out indefinitely Personal - 19 / 11 / 24 15-14 15-12-2 + - Mrazek has been sidelined due to an personal reason, and he will miss an extended period.
Seth Jones (D) Late Dec Foot - 16 / 11 / 24 15-15 15-13-2 + - Jones has been placed on the injured reserve list with a right foot injury, and team officials say he is expected to miss four weeks.