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The Boston Bruins continue their playoff push, as they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday on NBC. The Bruins are battling for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and every game is critical to their chances. They face a tough task on Sunday, as they face a Chicago Blackhawks team that has the best record in the Western Conference. These teams met earlier this season in Boston and it was Chicago winning 1-0.
Don't miss the ice action from the United Center at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on NBC.
We'll have NHL odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NHL Sunday schedule.
Odds Analysis
This is not a good spot for Boston, as they are playing their third game in four days and with no rest, as they hosted Florida on Saturday. The Bruins are 20-20 on the road this season with 19 games going over the total, 16 going under, with five pushes.
Based on their remaining schedule, the Bruins have no excuses for not making the playoffs. This is their only road game of their last four and the only back-to-back situation. They finish with Tampa, Ottawa and Washington. None of those games will be easy but the finale against Washington may not mean anything to the Capitals if they have clinched the top spot.
The Blackhawks had Saturday off after hosting Columbus on Friday. Chicago was 25-14 in their first 39 home games with 19 games going over the total, 16 going under, with four pushes.
Special Teams
Boston is 8th on the power play this season at 20.7%. They are scoring 2.8 goals per game, which is 12th in the league. They are 3rd in penalty killing at 85.1%. They are giving up about 2.6 goals per game, which is 12th in the league.
Chicago is only 17th on the power play at 18.7% but they are still scoring 3 goals per game, which is good for 7th in the league. They are 26th in penalty killing at 77.4% and they are 10th in goals against at 2.6 per contest.
Goalie Report
The Bruins finally have a backup goalie, as Anton Khudobin has been great lately in relief of Tuukka Rask. It is unlikely Khudobin will get much work down the stretch unless Rask is terrible, but at least Boston has a backup goalie who can win. Rask is 34-24 with a 2.34 goals against average. Khudobin has won his last five starts and has allowed just eight goals in those starts. Head coach Bruce Cassidy said it will be Rask down the stretch. “[Rask] is our number one goalie, and we’re not skirting our way around that issue,” Cassidy told the Boston Herald. “He’s our number one, and his health is very important.”
The Blackhawks have a clear number one in Corey Crawford who is 30-19 with a 2.56 goals against average and Chicago has a good backup in Scott Darling who is 18-9 with a 2.32 goals against average.
Free NHL Picks
The Blackhawks have won 7 of the last 10 in this series with three of the last four going over the total. It has been a bit of a road team series, as the teams have split their last ten in Chicago with the last two going over the number.
The Bruins have been a good road team but this is not a good spot for them having played on Saturday. Boston is not going to simply throw in the towel on a game, but it would be easy to see them struggling in this one on the road against Chicago in a matinee, having played the day before. I will lay the price and take the Blackhawks in this contest.
NHL Odds: Blackhawks 4, Bruins 2
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