Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins Prediction: Can David Pastrnak, Bruins Bounce Back?
The Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks kick off Thursday's NHL slate. Can David Pastrnak and the Bruins bounce back? Ben Rajavuori provides his best bet for the game.
Ben Rajavuori - February 8, 2024, 2:56 PM EST
7 minVancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins Prediction: Can David Pastrnak, Bruins Bounce Back?
The Boston Bruins host the Vancouver Canucks tonight in a matchup between the two highest point leaders in the NHL. The Canucks led the NHL with 73 points with a record of 34–11–5. The Canucks came back from the All-Star break with a win on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Bruins are second in the NHL with 71 points with a record of 31–10-9 and came back from the All-Star break with a loss at home against the Flames. The Bruins will be looking to bounce back tonight at home after that loss and are –130 favorites to do so.
Canucks vs. Bruins DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: February 8, 2024
- Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Where to Watch: ESPN+
Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins Prediction
The Canucks have been absolutely on fire this season. They lead the NHL in points, and a large part of that has been to the elite goaltender play by Thatcher Demko. Demko is sixth in the NHL with a 92% save rate in net and he is seventh in the NHL in goals allowed per game with 2.43. The Canucks have relied on him heavily in net, as he has 36 starts this season. He also has five shutouts already this season.
Demko is putting on a Vezina-caliber season and has been a brick wall in net behind a Canucks team that is also scary on offense. JT Miller leads the team with 68 points as he’s been an assist machine this year. Brock Boeser leads the team with 30 goals and has 54 points overall. The Canucks are pretty healthy right now and should pick up where they left off before the All-Star break, but this is a very tough road spot for them.
The Bruins had an equally impressive first half of the season but were met in the second half of the season with a loss at home against the Flames. There is no goalie confirmed for tonight, but as Jeremy Swayman started last game, the expectation is Linus Ullmark will start tonight. Linus Ullmark is coming off a Vezina trophy season last year, as he was undoubtedly the best goalie in the league.
This year, Jeremy Swayman is doing an excellent job, but Linus Ulmer has still held it down in the net. Ullmark is just behind Demko with a 91.5% save rate. He has a little bit higher goals allowed average at 2.78, which is 23rd in the NHL. However, we all know what he is capable of, and his numbers are still very impressive this year.
The Bruins are led in points by David Pastrnak, who has a ridiculously high 73 points this year. He leads the team with 33 goals and he also leads the team with 40 assists. Brad Marchand on the left side at the wing position has also been very impressive with 47 points this season. Pastrnak and Marchand have been two of the best wings in the league this year and lead a very strong Bruins attack.
This is simply too good of a spot to fade the Bruins at home. The Bruins have been one of the best home teams over the last few seasons, but they are even better off a loss. The Bruins are 20–3 when they play at home after losing at home the previous game since 2020. That is a ridiculous trend that has just a -130 price tag on it tonight, and while the Bruins are playing a very talented Canucks team, this is too good of a line to pass up.
This is giving me the vibes of the Vegas Golden Knights as home underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers the other night, which was also too good of a line to pass up, and we all know how that one ended as we were on the Knights there as well. Let’s do it again with the Bruins tonight.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins Pick
2 Unit Pick: Boston Bruins ML -130 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
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