by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Feb 23, 2023
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
Where to watch: ROOT-NW, NESN, SN360
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Bruins -175, Kraken +150
FanDuel: Bruins -175, Kraken +150
BetMGM: Bruins -175, Kraken +150
Caesars: Bruins -175, Kraken +150
Season record
Bruins: 43-8-5
Kraken: 32-19-6
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Bruins - Kraken preview, prediction and analysis
The Boston Bruins will be playing the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, February 23 in Seattle, Washington.
The Boston Bruins won against the Ottawa Senators last Monday, February 20 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with a score of 3-1. The Boston Bruins currently rank 1st in the Atlantic Division.
David Pastrnak scored twice, including his 40th goal of the season, for the Boston Bruins. Charlie McAvoy had three assists, and Linus Ullmark made 30 saves for Boston (43-8-5), which has won four in a row.
"When [Pastrnak's] really on like he was tonight, it jumps out at you," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "When he has his B-game, it still jumps out at you. That's how good he is, and he was just ultracreative. I thought him and Charlie McAvoy were special tonight."
Jake DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 15:09 of the first period, putting in the rebound of his own shot over Mandolese's right shoulder. It was DeBrusk's second goal in as many games after missing 17 games with hand and leg injuries.
"It's obviously always a good time when you see the puck go in the net," DeBrusk said. "To get us up in the first there, to get the first goal of the game, it's always [nice getting] the crowd involved, and that's what I wanted to do."
Claude Giroux tied it 1-1 at 19:30 of the first. Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk's pass attempt hit the skate of Senators forward Dylan Gambrell, who corralled the puck in the corner and centered it to Giroux in the slot.
Pastrnak put Boston in front 2-1 at 17:06 of the second period, scoring glove side from the bottom of the left circle off a pass from McAvoy.
David Krejci, who had the secondary assist on the play, was honored in a pregame ceremony for playing 1,000 NHL games, which he accomplished on Jan. 16.
"I knew what to expect a little bit, but it was more than I expected," Krejci said. "It was a pretty special moment, having the family there with me. … Just a special moment and I'm very, very thankful that I'm part of this team."
Pastrnak pushed it to 3-1 at 12:10 of the third period, shooting five-hole on a breakaway after receiving a stretch pass off the boards from McAvoy. Pastrnak has 41 goals this season, trailing Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (42) for the NHL lead.
"It was a set play," Pastrnak said. "[McAvoy and I] didn't connect the tape-to-tape. He just let it bounce off the boards, and I told him right away, 'That's an unbelievable play.' Heads down to him, great pass."
The Boston Bruins have won six of their last 10 games.
The Seattle Kraken lost against the San Jose Sharkes last Monday, February 20 at SAP Center in San Jose, California with a score of 4-0. The Seattle Kraken currently rank 3rd in the Pacific Division.
Martin Jones made 19 saves for the Kraken (32-19-6), who had won two straight and had their four-game point streak end (3-0-1).
"They were quicker and harder at the puck," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "They worked at a level that they were winning and dictating those battles."
Couture was credited with the goal that gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at 10:45 of the second period when Seattle forward Yanni Gourde pulled an offensive-zone face-off back toward his own net, surprising Jones.
"It's unfortunate," Gourde said. "It's a quick play. [Jones] doesn't have time to react."
San Jose scored three more goals, with no goal by Seattle.
"I think we just didn't skate," Gourde said. "We didn't skate hard enough. They dictated the pace of the game [and] we adjusted to them, which should never happen with our group. I think our group is good enough that we should impose the pace of the game every single night, and they were quicker than us."
The Seattle Kraken have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Bruins 4, Kraken 2
The Boston Bruins won against the Ottawa Senators last Monday, February 20 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts with a score of 3-1. The Boston Bruins currently rank 1st in the Atlantic Division.
David Pastrnak scored twice, including his 40th goal of the season, for the Boston Bruins. Charlie McAvoy had three assists, and Linus Ullmark made 30 saves for Boston (43-8-5), which has won four in a row.
"When [Pastrnak's] really on like he was tonight, it jumps out at you," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "When he has his B-game, it still jumps out at you. That's how good he is, and he was just ultracreative. I thought him and Charlie McAvoy were special tonight."
Jake DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 15:09 of the first period, putting in the rebound of his own shot over Mandolese's right shoulder. It was DeBrusk's second goal in as many games after missing 17 games with hand and leg injuries.
"It's obviously always a good time when you see the puck go in the net," DeBrusk said. "To get us up in the first there, to get the first goal of the game, it's always [nice getting] the crowd involved, and that's what I wanted to do."
Claude Giroux tied it 1-1 at 19:30 of the first. Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk's pass attempt hit the skate of Senators forward Dylan Gambrell, who corralled the puck in the corner and centered it to Giroux in the slot.
Pastrnak put Boston in front 2-1 at 17:06 of the second period, scoring glove side from the bottom of the left circle off a pass from McAvoy.
David Krejci, who had the secondary assist on the play, was honored in a pregame ceremony for playing 1,000 NHL games, which he accomplished on Jan. 16.
"I knew what to expect a little bit, but it was more than I expected," Krejci said. "It was a pretty special moment, having the family there with me. … Just a special moment and I'm very, very thankful that I'm part of this team."
Pastrnak pushed it to 3-1 at 12:10 of the third period, shooting five-hole on a breakaway after receiving a stretch pass off the boards from McAvoy. Pastrnak has 41 goals this season, trailing Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (42) for the NHL lead.
"It was a set play," Pastrnak said. "[McAvoy and I] didn't connect the tape-to-tape. He just let it bounce off the boards, and I told him right away, 'That's an unbelievable play.' Heads down to him, great pass."
The Boston Bruins have won six of their last 10 games.
The Seattle Kraken lost against the San Jose Sharkes last Monday, February 20 at SAP Center in San Jose, California with a score of 4-0. The Seattle Kraken currently rank 3rd in the Pacific Division.
Martin Jones made 19 saves for the Kraken (32-19-6), who had won two straight and had their four-game point streak end (3-0-1).
"They were quicker and harder at the puck," Seattle coach Dave Hakstol said. "They worked at a level that they were winning and dictating those battles."
Couture was credited with the goal that gave San Jose a 1-0 lead at 10:45 of the second period when Seattle forward Yanni Gourde pulled an offensive-zone face-off back toward his own net, surprising Jones.
"It's unfortunate," Gourde said. "It's a quick play. [Jones] doesn't have time to react."
San Jose scored three more goals, with no goal by Seattle.
"I think we just didn't skate," Gourde said. "We didn't skate hard enough. They dictated the pace of the game [and] we adjusted to them, which should never happen with our group. I think our group is good enough that we should impose the pace of the game every single night, and they were quicker than us."
The Seattle Kraken have won four of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Bruins 4, Kraken 2
Betting trends
Bruins are 26-5 off an under this season.
Bruins are 14-2 off a home win by 2 goals or more.
Kraken are 12-5 after a division game this season.
Projected lines
Bruins:
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha -- David Krejci -- David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith
Nick Foligno -- Trent Frederic -- A.J. Greer
Matt Grzelcyk -- Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton
Linus Ullmark
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha -- David Krejci -- David Pastrnak
Taylor Hall -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith
Nick Foligno -- Trent Frederic -- A.J. Greer
Matt Grzelcyk -- Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton
Linus Ullmark
Kraken:
Jared McCann -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle
Eeli Tolvanen -- Yanni Gourde -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jaden Schwartz - Alex Wennberg -- Brandon Tanev
Ryan Donato -- Morgan Geekie -- Daniel Sprong
Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak -- Will Borgen
Carson Soucy -- Justin Schultz
Philipp Grubauer
Jared McCann -- Matty Beniers -- Jordan Eberle
Eeli Tolvanen -- Yanni Gourde -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Jaden Schwartz - Alex Wennberg -- Brandon Tanev
Ryan Donato -- Morgan Geekie -- Daniel Sprong
Vince Dunn -- Adam Larsson
Jamie Oleksiak -- Will Borgen
Carson Soucy -- Justin Schultz
Philipp Grubauer
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
