Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/16/2022

Time: 12:30 p.m. ET

Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to watch: NHL Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, NESN

DraftKings: Bruins -125, Penguins +100

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Bruins -125, Penguins +105

Penguins: 43-22-11

Bruins: 45-24-5

The Boston Bruins are next in line to clinch a playoff spot, and can do so with at least one point against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at TD Garden. The biggest obstacle the Bruins have to wrap up, however, is will they be playing as one of the two wild-card teams, or can they catch the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division?

 

Because that large difference means a lot when it comes to playing the Carolina Hurricanes or Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. If the playoffs were to start today, the Bruins would be going to Carolina in the first round – a rematch of the 2019 Eastern Conference Final, of all things – and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning would face Toronto in what can only be described as the biggest narrative we’ve seen in years.

 

For historical purposes and just overall laughter, we would want to see the Bruins face the Maple Leafs in the first round just so it could go to seven games and Boston would eliminate Toronto again, and we would all parade in the streets while the city of Toronto is flooded by patrons’ tears.

 

The Bruins actually missed out on clinching a playoff spot on Thursday in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at home, and knowing what they know now about Tampa Bay winning, the Bruins missed a giant opportunity to keep pace with the Lightning. And now the biggest question turns to Linus Ullmark’s status after he left in the first period due to injury. Jeremy Swayman filled in admirably for him but throwing a cold Swayman in net did not help matters.

 

"Frustration is a useless emotion. I'm not frustrated. We want to correct things," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We had some miscommunications on the bench tonight. We had some lack of focus, especially on the power play. … Some guys that are typically used to putting up goals and points, when it doesn't go in, they can get frustrated."

 

Fortunately for Boston is the gap is so long between them and the New York islanders that such things would require the most ridiculous drop off for them to miss the playoffs. That, and the Islanders would need to win every game. Barry Trotz wants you to stay hydrated for this adventure.

 

Speaking of the Islanders, the Penguins clinched their own playoff spot after defeating the Islanders 6-3 at home, completing the home-and-home after losing 5-4 two days prior.

 

Jake Guentzel flat-out dominated this game with two goals and two assists to help the Penguins secure a playoff spot for the 16th straight season. Think about the longevity with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and how much success those two have generated for this franchise. Who in the world know if that’s going to continue doing what they’ve done? It’s quite remarkable.

 

"I think it's a remarkable accomplishment," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "It's hard to make the playoffs. Half of the League doesn't make it every year. … There's a lot of good teams every season that don't make it. The fact that this organization has done it 16 consecutive years in a row, in my mind, is a remarkable achievement."

 

Crosby also had a goal and two assists to help lead the Penguins and it also helps that Tristan Jarry is playing as well as he has this year. He had 36 saves in the win.

 

"I think if we focus on our own game and trying to accomplish what we want, that's going to give us the result," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "I think it's just a question of keep getting better every day. Try to correct little things in our plans going into games."

Pittsburgh still has positioning to play for, trailing the New York Rangers by five points for second place and leading the Capitals by five points for third place. This game still has some meaning for Pittsburgh, but I do think with Boston at home that it’s going to show some sort of importance for the home team to at least clinch a spot. Bruins win 4-2

Penguins are 60-41 the past three seasons off a division game.

Penguins are 13-3 the past three seasons (3-0 this year) after two straight games where both teams scored three goals or more.

Bruins are 15-4 this season after two or more consecutive unders.

Penguins:

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust

Jason Zucker -- Jeff Carter -- Rickard Rakell

Brock McGinn -- Teddy Blueger -- Evan Rodrigues

Danton Heinen -- Brian Boyle - Kasperi Kapanen

Mike Matheson -- Kris Letang

Brian Dumoulin -- John Marino

Mark Friedman -- Chad Ruhwedel

Tristan Jarry

Bruins:

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk

Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- Jesper Froden

Tomas Nosek -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith

Nick Foligno -- Marc McLaughlin -- Curtis Lazar

Mike Reilly -- Charlie McAvoy

Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton

Matt Grzelcyk -- Josh Brown

Jeremy Swayman

Points: Sidney Crosby -- 80

Goals: Jake Guentzel -- 37

Assists: Kris Letang -- 55

Goalie: Tristan Jarry -- 34-18-6, 2.42 GAA, .919 SV%

Points: Brad Marchand -- 73

Goals: David Pastrnak -- 38

Assists: Charlie McAvoy -- 44

Goalie: Jeremy Swayman -- 20-12-3, 2.38 GAA, .915 SV%