The Boston Bruins’ elite defense and goaltending will only carry them so far if their offensive struggles continue – and the journey is in danger of ending in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins tangle with the host Washington Capitals in Game 2 on Monday night after dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to a Capitals team that made a living out of one-goal wins during the season.
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Boston opened as a slim -119 favorite but that line has shifted in the visitors’ favor, with the Bruins now listed in the -130 to -135 range. The total, on the other hand, has held steady at 5.5.
Boston News and Notes
The Bruins’ overall offensive numbers were down across the board during the regular season, and they struggled to do much of anything against the Capitals on Saturday night in their second meeting in five days. Boston managed just 26 shots in defeat, with 11 of those coming from just two players: forward David Pastrnak (six) and defenseman Charlie McAvoy (five)
Most impressively for the Capitals (and alarmingly for the Bruins), the home team found a way to completely neutralize forward Brad Marchand. The superstar winger victimized Washington for seven goals and six assists in seven meetings during the regular season, but he was held without a point while managing a single shot on goal over more than 23 minutes of ice time.
Washington News and Notes
It’s one thing to finish with a winning record in one-goal games – it’s another matter altogether to do what the Capitals did during the 2020-21 campaign. Washington entered the postseason with an incredible 19-1-5 record in one-goal contests this season, with their .760 winning percentage by far the best in the league. Those 19 one-goal victories also led the NHL.
While the Capitals didn’t get a goal from star winger Alex Ovechkin, he did just about everything else in his 18:26 of ice time, earning an assist while firing six shots (four on target) and dishing out four hits. He had just two goals and two assists with a -13 rating in eight regular-season meetings with the Bruins, and keeping him off the scoresheet will be pivotal to the Bruins’ success.
Betting Pick: UNDER 5.5 (-110)
Both teams have dug in defensively, so bettors should expect a few more low-scoring games before this series is over.
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