Utah Jazz vs
Boston BruinsPredictions & Preview

Boston Bruins Look to Turn Season Around Against Utah Hockey Club

On Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. EST, the struggling Boston Bruins will face off against the Utah Hockey Club at TD Garden. Boston recently made a coaching change by firing Jim Montgomery due to their slow start, and they currently sit at 4th in the Atlantic division with 19 points in 20 games. Utah, on the other hand, is looking to avoid a three-game losing streak as they sit at 5th in the Central division with 17 points in 18 games. Boston is favored to win with a -173 money line, which has since shifted to -166, and the total goals for the game is set at 5.5. It will be a battle between two struggling teams as they strive to turn their seasons around.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Jazz +146 | Bruins -166
• Spread: Jazz +1.5 (-175) | Bruins -1.5 (+155)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Boston will win straight-up is 62%.

Utah vs Boston Stats

Utah Jazz

In their most recent game, Utah lost to the Washington Capitals with a final score of 6-2. Nick Bjugstad and Jack McBain scored one goal each, while Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther led the team with four shots on goal each. Goalies Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka made 9 saves each. Clayton Keller currently leads the team with 16 points, closely followed by four other players with 12+ points each. Dylan Guenther leads in goals with seven, while Nick Schmaltz has 13 assists. Guenther also leads with a +4 and McBain leads in penalty minutes with 33. The team ranks 22nd in goals per game and 29th in shots per game. Their power play success rate is 13.7% and they have a 54.2% win percentage in face-offs. Defensively, Mikhail Sergachev leads in points with 12, Michael Kesserling has the best +/- ratio, and Maverick Lamoureux leads in penalty minutes. Sergachev leads in ice time with an average of 25:29, and leads in shots on goal with 31. The team ranks 19th in shots against, 26th in goals against, and 27th in penalty kill rate. Connor Ingram has the majority of starts in net with a 3.61 GAA and 87.1% save percentage. Utah is ranked 24th in offense, 26th in defense, and has a power ranking of 24 with a record of 7-8-3 this season.

Boston Bruins Analysis

The Boston Bruins suffered a tough 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in their latest game, with Charlie Coyle scoring the only goal for the team. Despite some individual highlights, the Bruins have struggled offensively this season, ranking last in the league in goals scored and power play success rate. David Pastrnak leads the team in points, goals, and assists, while Jeremy Swayman has not performed at the level seen last year. The defense has also faced challenges, ranking 27th in goals against and penalty kill percentage. Three players are currently listed on the injury report for the Bruins. Overall, the team has a power ranking of 32 and has a record of 8-9-3. In their last three matchups against Utah, Boston has gone 1-0-2.

Bruins Favored to Cover Spread Against Utah Based on Key Factors

I am inclined to take the Bruins at -1.5 based on various factors. With a new coach and the support of their home crowd at TD Garden, Boston should be able to improve their performance. Despite their struggles this season, I anticipate the Bruins will be able to cover the spread in upcoming games. Additionally, Utah's defensive deficiencies may give Boston an advantage in scoring opportunities. In terms of goaltending, I have confidence in Swayman over Utah's Ingram or Vejmelka. Considering these factors, I believe the Bruins have a favorable position in this matchup.

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