Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins: Game preview, predictions and odds | December 28, 2024

The Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets get an immediate redo on the schedule. On Friday night, the two teams connected in Columbus. Tonight, they're in Boston to face off as part of a home-and-home back-to-back. Both teams have the same rest disadvantage.

The Blue Jackets are a bit of a middling team, coming in fifth in the Metropolitan Division right now. The Bruins are, even after a bad start that cost their coach his job, in third place. The Blue Jackets dominated 6-2 on Friday.

---

Blue Jackets vs Bruins: Head-to-head & key numbers

• The Bruins have outscored the Blue Jackets all-time 156-120.
• Boston is 30-17-1 all-time against Columbus.
• Columbus won the first matchup between these two sides in 2024-25.
• Boston has won the season series four out of the last five years.
• Boston averages 3.1 goals per contest against Columbus when at home.
• When visiting the Bruins, the Blue Jackets score 2.4 goals per game.
• The Blue Jackets won 5-1 to open the series this season.

---

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Boston Bruins: Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins may be in similar standing right now, with eight points separating them, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Boston is one of the hottest NHL teams lately because it was so bad it fired Jim Montgomery, who joined the St. Louis Blues, early on.

The Boston Bruins are favored tonight (Imagn)

David Pastrnak has been day-to-day for the Bruins with an upper-body injury after a collision against the Washington Capitals. Hampus Lindholm remains on injured reserve and is considered week-to-week with his lower-body injury.

On the Blue Jackets side of things, there aren't many injuries to note. Elvis Merzlikins has been day-to-day, but he was the only player on the injury report. For tonight, he's not even on it as he played Friday.

---

Blue Jackets vs Bruins Betting Tips

• Boston has won eight of its last 11 meetings with the Blue Jackets.
• The Bruins have won seven of their last 11 games.
• The Blue Jackets have lost seven of their last 11 games.
• Boston and its opponent have gone over six goals 19 times this season.

---

Jackets vs Bruins: Odds and Predictions

Here are the full odds for the matchup between the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets:

• Boston is -145 to win on the moneyline.
• The Blue Jackets are +125.
• The over/under is set at 6.5 goals.
• The over is +105, and the under is -125.
• The puck line is Boston -1.5, which is +111.
• Columbus +1.5 is -132.

Prediction: The Bruins, at home, assert their dominance and continue their good form. They play well enough to cover the spread and hit the over. Bruins 5, Blue Jackets 2.