NHL Game Preview: Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals with Line Combinations 12/31/2024

Boston Bruins (20-14-4, 44 pts) at Washington Capitals (24-10-2, 50 pts)
Venue: Capital One Arena
Date: Tuesday, December 31
Time: 12:30 pm EST

TV: ESPN + / NESN / MNMT
Radio:
Boston Bruins – The Sports Hub 98.5 FM
Washington Capitals – WJFK 106.7 FM / WFED 1500 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Boston Bruins +1.5 ML +115
Washington Capitals -1.5 ML -135
O/U 5.5

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Boston Bruins News & Notes:

The Bruins rebounded from their 6-2 loss in Columbus on Friday night to defeat the Blue Jackets the following night 4-0 at the TD Garden in Boston. The Bruins are 8-8-2 on the road this season and are 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Boston won the first meeting between these teams 4-1 on December 23. The Bruins held the Capitals to only 11 shots on goal in that game, the Capitals’ lowest shot total since 2007.

Washington Capitals News & Notes:

The Capitals will look to extend a three-game home winning streak against the Bruins on Tuesday afternoon. Washington is 11-4-2 at home this season and is 6-4-0 in their last ten games. The Capitals are 10-4-0 in games they score one or more power-play goals.

Boston Bruins Projected Lines:

Geekie-Zacha-Pastrnak
Marchand-E. Lindholm-Coyle
Koepke-Frederic-Brazeau
Beecher-Kastelic-McLaughlin

Zadorov-McAvoy
Wotherspoon-Carlo
Lohrei-Peeke

Swayman
Korpisalo

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Washington Capitals Projected Lines:

Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Mangiapane-Eller-Vrana
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Roy
Chychrun-van Riemsdyk

Thompson
Lindgren

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Players To Watch:

Boston Bruins

Morgan Geekie has been on a hot steak lately after struggling for the first two months of the season. The 26-year-old Strathclair, Manitoba native had only 5 points through the end of November but has come alive with 11 points in December. The rugged winger has benefitted from being added to the top line of Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak and has made the most of that opportunity. Geekie has 16 points (8g, 8a) in 33 games played this season, which puts him on a similar pace to the 39 points of a year ago.

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin is only 25 goals from Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record. With goals in back-to-back games since returning from injury and goals in four straight games, the 39-year-old winger from Moscow continues to inch closer to becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. Ovechkin leads the Capitals with 17 goals in only 20 games played.

Injury Report:

Boston Bruins

D Hampus Lindholm – IR

Washington Capitals

LW Sonny Milano – IR
RW TJ Oshie – LTIR
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR

Next Game:

Boston Bruins – January 2 at New York Rangers
Washington Capitals – January 2 vs. Minnesota Wild

Season 4. Episode 15. Public Skate – Bruins Benders Podcast

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1. Season 4. Episode 15. Public Skate 50:19
2. Season 4. Episode 14. West Coast Road Trip. 41:21
3. Season 4. Episode 13. This Is Not the Sway 01:14:21
4. Season 4. Episode 12. Going Streaking! 55:26
5. Season 4. Episode 11. Have the Bruins Turned a Corner? 01:04:20