NHL Predictions: March 3rd, Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins

How to Watch: Sportsnet+, TVAS+, SNP, NESN, SN-PIT

Penguins Story

Pittsburgh comes into this game off a 5-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. With the win, the Penguins are 7-1-2 in their last 10 with a total record of 31-15-13 on the season. Coming out of the Olympic break hot, the Penguins are in a tight race with the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Both teams are tied at 75 points, although the Penguins do have two games in hand on the Islanders. With the trade deadline looming and the continued absence of captain Sidney Crosby, the Penguins will need to keep scrounging points in order to gain home ice advantage for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The Penguins are getting contributions from all across the lineup. Rookie Benjamin Kindel continues his excellent initial season in the NHL. He put up a goal and an assist against the Golden Knights. Recent acquisition Egor Chinakhov continues his hot streak with a goal against Vegas as well. He is up to 10 goals and 14 points through 21 games with the Penguins. Crosby’s usual wingers, meanwhile, continue to produce in his absence. Bryan Rust scored a goal and an assist, while Rickard Rakell pitched in a goal of his own against Vegas. Defensively, the focus stays on Swedish Olympian Erik Karlsson. With two assists against the Knights, Karlsson is up to four goals and 38 points in 54 games this season. 

In net, expect Stuart Skinner to get the start. Skinner is 8-4-2 with an .890 save percentage with the Penguins. This is a good time to remind you that it’s always a good idea to double-check official starters prior to placing any bets. 

Bruins Story

This season has seen an unexpected bounce back for the Boston Bruins. After missing the playoffs and selecting seventh overall last season, the Bruins have fought their way back into playoff contention with a record of 33-21-5 this season. Standing in the last wildcard spot with 71 points, the Bruins hold a two-point lead over the next team in the race, the Washington Capitals, while having three extra games in hand over Washington. With the trade deadline looming, look for Boston to make some upgrades while continuing their path on this retool.

David Pastrnak has carried on superstardom torch, as it has been passed along from former Bruins like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Pastrnak has scored 22 goals and 72 points in 55 games this season. Behind him, Morgan Geekie has been a mainstay of the Bruins ‘ offence. The former third-round pick has 33 goals and 55 points in 58 games this season. He’s provided crucial secondary scoring at a time when the Bruins were expecting a dearth in that department. Defensively, Charlie McAvoy has continued to play the way Boston expects of him. The superstar defenceman has five goals and 41 points in 47 games while leading things from the back end. A player to watch out for is rookie Fraser Minten. Acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, Minten has had an excellent rookie season for Boston with 14 goals and 29 points through 59 games. 

Expect Jeremy Swayman to get the start in net. The Olympic gold medallist is 22-13-3 this season with a .903 save percentage.

Prediction

Although the Penguins have been playing well recently, the Bruins are fighting for their playoff lives. Expect Boston to come out hot and get the victory in this game. 

Prediction: Bruins win 3-2.

Prop Bet of the Night

Expecting a lower-scoring game, a popular prop bet of goals under six with odds of +100 is a good one. 

Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.