NHL Playoffs: Bruins vs Blue Jackets

Matt Duchene has Been Key for Blue Jackets

Frustration is building for the Boston Bruins as they head into Game 4 of their Eastern Conference NHL Playoffs matchup with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets have a chance to deliver a punishing blow on Thursday night.

The trades by Columbus Blue Jackets’ General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen are paying tremendous dividends in the playoffs. In Round 2, Matt Duchene has become the Jackets’ top clutch scorer. He posted the game winning goal in both Games 2 and 3. Brad Marchand threw a sucker punch to the back of the head of a Columbus Blue Jackets defender late in Game 3. While Marchand avoided punishment by the league, things could definitely erupt tonight.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TVAS, Sportsnet LINE: Blue Jackets -123; O/U: 5 Under -123.

In addition to Duchene, the Blue Jackets are thriving off of the play of their backbone goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky. The Russian netminder has put Columbus on his back at times during these playoffs. He has done this particularly against Boston. Bobrovsky has been stellar. He’s let in just five goals in three games and is now up to a .937 save percentage in the postseason.

For Boston, they’re still searching for production from their top players. Normally the top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron leads the B’s offense. They’ve tallied just one point combined in the first three games of the second round series. The Bruins have the highest point total of any team left in the playoffs. They erased three separate deficits in their first-round series win over Toronto. The firepower is there, it just has been shackled.

This, That, and the Dart Throw

Bergeron, Marchand and David Pastrnak combined for 106 goals during the regular season for the Bruins. The trio was reunited on the No. 1 line at Wednesday's practice. Don't be surprised with another lineup change as coach Bruce Cassidy inserted David Backes on the second unit. Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci are to provide a "net presence" for the team.
Marchand leads the team with nine points in the playoffs, but he has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games

While center Matt Duchene is the Blue Jackets' prize acquisition at the trade deadline, his superlative play has been overshadowed by the exploits Sergei Bobrovsky in net. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner improved to 6-1 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in the postseason by turning aside 36 of 37 shots Tuesday. The Blue Jackets are 3-for-7 on the power play in the past two games. Columbus has won eight of its last nine at home, but the lone blemish was a 6-2 loss to Boston on April 2.

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The Dart Throw: Bruins 2, Blue Jackets 1.

NHL Playoffs Betting Odds & Trends

Boston Bruins
Boston is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games on the road
Boston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Boston's last 13 games when playing Columbus
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing Columbus
Boston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus
Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Columbus
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Columbus

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Columbus is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games
Columbus is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Columbus is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Columbus is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Columbus's last 13 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Columbus's last 5 games when playing Boston
Columbus is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Columbus is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Columbus's last 6 games when playing at home against Boston

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