Since its inception in 2008 the NHL Winter Classic has become a vaunted New Year’s Day tradition for the league and for fans both hard core and casual. The aspect of playing a National Hockey League game outdoors at famous baseball and football stadiums has been clearly established as an undeniable success both at the venues involved and on the television ratings. This year offers everything a hockey fan could want with two of the NHL’s Original Six teams playing at Notre Dame Stadium, perhaps the most revered of all college football venues. The nearby Chicago Blackhawks will face the Boston Bruins in a highly anticipated 2019 Winter Classic matchup.
NHL Betting at Bookmaker.eu
Boston Bruins vs. Chicago Blackhawks 2019 NHL Winter Classic
Date and Time: Tuesday, January 1, 2019, 1 p.m. ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
NHL Betting Online Odds at Bookmaker.eu: Check Back Later
Bruins vs. Blackhawks TV Coverage: NBC
Odds Analysis
Betting action should be even on both sides as both the Bruins and Blackhawks have large followings and fan bases. Casual fans are familiar with both teams. Despite the Blackhawks bad start most gamblers will be looking past that. Based on the Original Six marquee and that the game is at Notre Dame live betting is expected to be hot and heavy with plenty of opportunities throughout the afternoon.
Current Form
Both teams are in winning form recently and each is coming off a thrilling overtime win on the road in their previous game.
The Boston Bruins have won four of their last six games with three of their last four going over the total. Boston is coming off a 3-2 overtime thriller at the Buffalo Sabres in which they tied the game with less than four minutes to play, forcing overtime. Boston now stands at 21-14-4 with a 15-23-1 mark under the total. The Bruins are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division.
The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the hottest teams on the NHL board with five wins in their last six games to now stand at 15-20-5-1 and 22-16-3 over the total. The Blackhawks have gone over the total in seven of their last 10 games. Chicago is stuck in sixth place in the Central Division but after a horrible start they are finally making a move to get back into the Western Conference playoff race.
Matchup Metrics
The Blackhawks still have bad numbers, though improving. Chicago ranks 19th in the NHL for goal scoring and 24th for the penalty kill. Defensively the Hawks rank 30th for goals against and 31st for the penalty kill.
Boston has struggled to light the lamp this year with a ranking of 25th for goal scoring although the Bruins are a much more impressive fifth for the power play. Defensively the B’s rank a strong fifth for goals against but are a mediocre 17th for penalty killing.
Goaltending Report
Jaroslav Halak and Tuukka Rask have split the goaltending workload for Boston. Halak has posted a save percentage of .928 while Rask is at .912.
Corey Crawford is out of the Blackhawks lineup with another concussion issue. Collin Delia has impressed in three starts with a .957 save percentage while veteran backup Cam Ward is at a subpar .886.
Players to Watch
Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane remains the marquee man for the Blackhawks as one of the most dynamic and skilled players in the NHL. Kane has 22 goals and 28 assists on the year.
Left wing David Pastrnak leads the Bruins with 23 goals and 25 assists after a career year last season with 35 goals and 45 assists.
Free NHL Live Betting Odds Pick
It took three months but the Blackhawks are finally coming together. They’ll have a large contingent of fans making the 90-minute drive to South Bend.
NHL Live Betting Odds Picks: Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Score Prediction: Blackhawks 3, Bruins 1
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