Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins Picks and Predictions December 27th 2024

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins December 27th 2024

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Bruins and Blue Jackets. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. Get ready to place your bets! In this Eastern matchup, the Bruins are favored by -1.5 goals against the Blue Jackets. The over/under for the game is 6.5 goals.

Boston vs. Columbus Key Information

• Teams: Bruins at Blue Jackets
• Where: Nationwide Arena Columbus
• Date: Friday, December 27th
• Betting Odds BOS -165 | CBJ +135 O/U 6.5

The Bruins Can Win If…

Boston improved to 19-13-4 with a 2-0 win over the Kraken. The Bruins were -1.5 goal favorites and covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, but the combined score of 2 fell well short.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period. Justin Brazeau scored at 3:23, and Charlie Coyle added a power-play goal at 9:57. The Bruins’ defense held Seattle scoreless, with Jeremy Swayman stopping all 23 shots he faced.

Boston’s offense struck twice in the first period, with Justin Brazeau netting his 5th goal of the season and Charlie Coyle adding his 2nd, which came on a power play. The Bruins took 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period.

Boston recorded 16 giveaways and had four assists in the 2-0 win. Brad Marchand picked up his 7th assist of the season, while Elias Lindholm added his 6th.

Defensively, the Bruins were rock solid, shutting out the Kraken in a 2-0 victory. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a perfect 100% save percentage, while the defense added 5 takeaways and 15 hits.

• Through their last three games, the Bruins have a record of 2-1. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 3-0. Their over-under record in these games was 0-3.
• Boston has put together a record of 7-3 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 5-5, in addition to an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Blue Jackets Can Win If…

Columbus dropped to 14-15-6 after a 7-2 loss to the Capitals. The Blue Jackets were underdogs on the puck line and the total of 6.5 goals was surpassed with the 9 combined goals.

Columbus’ defense struggled early, allowing five goals in the first period. Damon Severson scored the Blue Jackets’ first goal at 19:11 in the second period, making it 5-1.

Columbus took 36 shots on goal but only managed to score twice in their 7-2 loss to Washington. Damon Severson netted his 4th goal of the season, and Kevin Labanc followed with his 2nd. The Blue Jackets were held scoreless in the first period before Severson scored 49 seconds into the second, with Labanc adding another at the 5:24 mark.

Columbus recorded 13 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play opportunities. Sean Monahan picked up his 5th assist of the season, while Zach Aston-Reese earned his 2nd assist. Adam Fantilli also contributed with his 4th assist on Severson’s goal.

Defensively, the Blue Jackets had a rough start, conceding five goals in the first period. After narrowing the score to 6-2 in the second, they allowed another late goal at 18:34 in the third, leading to a 7-2 loss. Goalie Daniil Tarasov made 15 saves with a 68.2% save percentage, while the defense recorded 10 takeaways and 17 hits.

• Over their last three games, the Blue Jackets have gone 2-1 straight up. This also includes going 2-1 puck line and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Columbus has a record of 3-7. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 4-6 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Blue Jackets to secure a victory over the Bruins at home. With the moneyline currently set at +135, I’m locking in my bet on the Blue Jackets straight-up.

Our projections have the Blue Jackets pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Blue Jackets, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

Bruins Look to Extend Points Streak Against Blue Jackets in Home-and-Home Series

The Boston Bruins bring a five-game points streak into a crucial post-holiday matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, the first of a home-and-home series. Both teams aim to build momentum as they prepare for the midseason grind, with the Bruins looking to solidify their Atlantic Division standing and the Blue Jackets aiming to claw back into playoff contention.

Boston Bruins: Riding Momentum

The Bruins (4-0-1 in their last five games) enter the matchup on a high after a dominant 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Despite injuries and some inconsistent offensive production, the team has shown resilience and an ability to close out tight games.

Key Points of Strength:

• Third-Period Breakthrough: After struggling in third periods all season, the Bruins scored three times in the final frame against Washington.
• Brad Marchand’s Leadership: The 36-year-old captain has been electric, riding a 10-game points streak and scoring seven goals in December.
• Goaltending Excellence: Jeremy Swayman allowed just 11 shots in Monday’s win, further cementing Boston’s defensive reliability.

Interim Coach Joe Sacco:
“There’s going to be games when you’re not at your best, but we’ve shown lately, too, that we can find ways to win.”

The Bruins’ only concern is the status of star winger David Pastrnak, who exited Monday’s game with an upper-body injury. His availability remains uncertain, but the team will lean on its depth to fill the gap if necessary.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Signs of Progress

The Blue Jackets (2-3-3 in their last eight games) showed flashes of brilliance in a thrilling 5-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday. Kirill Marchenko led the way with a goal and two assists, continuing his stellar season and developing chemistry with linemates Dmitri Voronkov and Sean Monahan.

What’s Working for Columbus:

• Marchenko’s Breakout Year: The 24-year-old forward leads the team with 13 goals and 37 points, including a six-game points streak (three goals, seven assists).
• Promising Young Talent: Defenseman Denton Mateychuk made his NHL debut Monday, logging 18:36 of ice time and contributing on the power play.
• First-Period Success: Columbus is 11-5-4 when scoring first, making a strong start crucial to their success.

Coach Dean Evason:
“We’ve asked (Marchenko) to win his battles, win his puck races, win his one-on-one confrontations, and he’s done that.”

Columbus will aim to replicate its dominant 5-1 win over Boston on Nov. 18, where a fast start powered by three first-period goals set the tone.

Key Matchups

• Brad Marchand vs. Blue Jackets Defense: Marchand’s creativity and form will test a Columbus defense integrating young players like Mateychuk.
• Kirill Marchenko vs. Bruins’ Blue Line: Marchenko’s dynamic playmaking and finishing ability make him a central threat to Boston’s tight defense.
• Special Teams Battle: Both teams feature emerging power-play units, with Boston finding recent success and Columbus experimenting with new configurations.

What’s at Stake?

• For Boston: Maintaining their spot among the top teams in the Atlantic Division and extending their points streak.
• For Columbus: Building confidence with a win against a top opponent and continuing to develop their young talent.

Check out the latest insights in NHL Conference Odds & Predictions!

Prediction

The Bruins’ depth and recent form give them the edge, but Columbus’ ability to strike early could make this a close contest. Look for a hard-fought game where goaltending and special teams could tip the scales.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2 (OT)