The Penguins return home to face the Bruins at PPG Paints Arena. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for all the NHL’s games. In today’s matchup, both teams aim to finish their seasons on a high note despite being out of playoff contention.
NHL Predictions
Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Penguins 1-1 Bruins
Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
TV: TNT, truTV, Max, Sportsnet+,
This will be the third and final meeting between these two teams this season. The Bruins won 2-1 in their first matchup in November , and the Penguins won their second 3-2 in March .
The Penguins Story
Pittsburgh is coming off a 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils . With their win, the Penguins improved their record to 33-35-12 on the season. With just two games left in the season, the Penguins rank fourth-last in the Eastern Conference, and eighth-last in the league. Although the team is looking to close out the season strong, the Penguins are likely to finish bottom ten in the league, receiving a high-draft pick for the first time in over a decade.
The Penguins offence has been led by superstar Sidney Crosby . Crosby’s performance this season has been fantastic, with 89 points in 78 games. Ranking in the top ten in points, Crosby has gotten help from pivotal forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust . Rakell has 34 goals and 68 points in 79 games. Rust meanwhile, has a career high 63 points in 69 games, 29 of which are goals. Closing out the season, rookies Ville Koivunen and Vasily Ponomarev are likely to draw playing time for the big club. They’ll have a fantastic opportunity to show Penguins management what they can do ahead of next preseason’s tryouts for the NHL roster.
The Bruins’ Story
Controversy to start the year with starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman has snowballed into a devastating season for the Boston Bruins. The teams performance has taken a nosedive since the tradeline, going 2-8-0 in their last ten. Among these losses, Boston is coming off a 5-2 defeat to the second-worst team in the league, the Chicago Blackhawks . The selling of captain Brad Marchand and other key pieces to the roster has cemented this teams place near the bottom of the league, as they sit fourth-last in the NHL going into this game.
Leading the Bruins is superstar forward David Pastrnak . Even with all the issues that have plagued Boston, Pastrnak has put together a 42 goal, 102 point season through 80 games. With Pastrnak leading the offence, the future is not as bleak as their record this season would suggest. Boston has done a good job surrounding him with forwards capable of building out a new core in Boston. Morgan Geekie has 31 goals and 55 points this season, second on the team behind Pastrnak. The key to victory for the Bruins against Pittsburgh will rely on the offensive prowess of Pastrnak, Geekie, and other forwards like Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm .
NHL Prediction
The Bruins have been struggling a lot as of late, but possess a lot of talent for a team so far down the standings. Expect a big game from Pastrnak for a Bruins victory.
Prediction: Bruins win 5-2
Prop Bet for the Night
Total Goals Over 6.5 (+102): Expect a high-scoring game between these teams playing for pride, having been eliminated from playoff contention.
Main Photo: Charles LeClaire- Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: April 13th Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins appeared first on Last Word On Hockey .