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The Chicago Blackhawks (1-0) visit the Boston Bruins for a Wednesday night battle at TD Garden. The opening puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Blackhawks vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Chicago opened its season with a 4-2 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday and is playing the back half of 2 games in as many days. The Blackhawks got a big goaltending effort from G Petr Mrazek (38 saves) and came up with 3 goals in the 3d period to seal the victory. First-overall pick C Connor Bedard recorded an assist on Chicago’s first goal and had 5 shots in his regular-season debut.
The Bruins clocked an NHL-record 65-12-5 mark last season but failed to pay it off by losing 4-3 to the Florida Panthers in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A lot of changes have been made to the roster. Gone are longtime standouts C Patrice Bergeron and C David Krejci, but Vezina Trophy winner G Linus Ullmark is back. So are the team’s 2 leading scorers from last season, RW David Pastrnak and LW Brad Marchand, so Boston should again be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference.
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Blackhawks at Bruins odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Blackhawks +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | Bruins -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Blackhawks +1.5 (+105) | Bruins -1.5 (-130)
Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: 100)
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Blackhawks at Bruins projected goalies
Arvid Soderblom (2022-23: 2-10-2, 3.45 GAA, .894 SV%) vs. Linus Ullmark (2022-23: 40-6-1, 1.89 GAA, .938 SV%)
Soderblom is a 24-year-old making just his 16th career start. He posted a solid .914 SV% on the road last season, but that was in the small sample of 6 games.
Ullmark was sensational a year ago, posting a .944 SV% in even-strength situations, but the then-29-year-old allowed 4 even-strength markers and 1 powerplay goal in a shaky 6-3 loss to the ‘Hawks on March 14.
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Blackhawks at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Blackhawks 2
Moneyline
Youthful Chicago played tough at Pittsburgh Tuesday, but the Blackhawks trailed 2-1 after 2 periods and might well have been down 4-1 if not for the superior goaltending of Mrazek, who made more than a few 10-bell saves in keeping the ‘Hawks in the game.
The Blackhawks started 3 rookies on the blueline at Pittsburgh. How does that group, let alone Bedard and the rest of the team handle the quick turnaround for this contest in Boston? The Bruins will want to come out with some fury to exorcise some demons from last April.
Look to the Puck line for the most value here: PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
Chicago went 0-for-4 on the powerplay at Pittsburgh, and the Blackhawks have all new lines in this new post-Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews era. Look for some growing pains on offense.
Ullmark plus veteran savvy plus rest equals a cushion for the Bruins in their home opener.
BET BOSTON -1.5 (-130).
Over/Under
No leverage here: PASS.
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