Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Following another heavy defeat this week, the Boston Bruins parted ways with head coach Jim Montgomery, with Joe Sacco stepping in to take the helm. It’s an opportune moment for a standout debut. On Friday night, the Bruins are set to face the Utah Hockey Club — a mid-table team in the Central Division with a 38.8% win rate.
Boston Bruins
It’s uncertain if the Bruins’ issues will dissipate with a coaching change, but in the short term, it could have an impact. During the broadcast of their last match against the Columbus Blue Jackets (1:5), an episode of Jim Montgomery arguing with captain Brad Marchand was captured. It's quite possible he simply lost the support of the team, suggesting that the Bruins, even in their current state, are capable of more. Part of this is corroborated by the statistics. In November, the hosts converted only 3.77% of their power-play opportunities, an area traditionally in the head coach’s domain.
Utah Hockey Club
The challenges faced by the Utah Hockey Club can be indirectly assessed through the statistical profile of goaltender Karel Vejmelka. Despite saving 91.5% of shots with a 2.58 goals-against average, he's recorded just one win in five games. The primary issue lies in their offence. Throughout November, the Utah Hockey Club scored only 15 goals in 7 games, which is far from satisfactory. Their squad features many young, developing players prone to inconsistency. October was lively and prolific. Now, it seems a downward trend has arrived.
Boston Bruins vs Utah Hockey Club Prediction
Historically, mid-season coaching changes often lead to short-term improvements in team performance. Since 2018, teams making such drastic changes have seen their win percentages rise from 45% to an average of 52.3%. The Boston Bruins have the potential for growth. After all, a team with David Pastrňák shouldn’t remain so ineffective on the power play. We're backing the Bruins to win.
