Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings are meeting for the second time in the last week and a half. Their previous game ended with a football-like scoreline (2:1) in favour of the Bruins, with both teams combining for just 3.7 xG. Has much changed since then?
Boston Bruins
Under Joe Sacco, the Bruins have at least started winning more often, claiming victory in four of their last six matches. The bad news is that scoring goals remains a significant challenge for them. The Bruins managed to score more than two goals in only two of those games, and one of those was against the Montreal Canadiens (6:3), so you could almost halve those six goals. Since Joe Sacco's arrival, the Bruins are generating only 2.24 goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, with their xG even lower at 2.14.
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have lost both of their primary goalkeepers to injury: Alex Lyon and Cam Talbot. Ville Husso has been called up to stand in, and the Finnish goaltender is likely to seize this opportunity with determination. He had a rough start to the season, landing on waivers, but has patiently bided his time in the AHL, delivering outstanding performances: four wins in four games and a save percentage of 94.4% with a 1.58 goals-against average. Just a couple of years ago, Husso was a serious Vezina contender with the St. Louis Blues, so a few early-season setbacks aren't indicative of his true level.
Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction
The Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings have played under the total in six of their last ten matchups, with one push. Neither team possesses the offensive prowess to consistently produce high-scoring games. Thus, betting on a total under seems like the optimal strategy.
