The Chicago Blackhawks will travel to Boston, Massachusetts to face off against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden in a nationally televised game airing on TNT at 7:30 PM ET on Wednesday night.

The Chicago Blackhawks won on opening night as they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road by a score of 4-2 with Joason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, Ryan Donato, and Cole Guttman accounting for the four goals. The Blackhawks trailed 1-2 going into the 3^rd period before scoring three unanswered goals in the final period to come away with the win. Petr Mrazek had a strong showing at goalie against the Bruins as he saved 38 of 40 shots for a save percentage of .950 while allowing two goals. The Blackhawks will start Arvid Soderblom at goalie for the matchup against the Bruins after Soderblom finished last year with a record of 2-10-2 with a .894 save percentage while allowing an average of 3.45 goals per game.

Boston was the best regular season team in NHL history last season as they set the record for the best record and the most points in a single season in league history with a record of 65-12-5 and 135 points which led to an Atlantic Division title, the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the Presidents’ Trophy. However, as good as they were during the regular season they didn’t last long in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they were eliminated in the 1^st round in seven games against the Florida Panthers after leading the series 3-1. This year the Bruins enter the season with an over/under point total of 99.5 goals which means they are projected to take a step back this season with one of the main reasons being the retirement of Patrice Bergeron in the offseason. Linus Ullmark will start at goalie for the Bruins against the Blackhawks on Wednesday night after finishing last season with a record of 40-6-1 with a .938 save percentage while allowing an average of 1.89 goals per game.

BookMaker has the Boston Bruins listed as -320 moneyline favorites at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Boston is 7-2-1 in the last ten and 2-1 in the last three games in the series while winning by an average margin of 1 goal per game over the last ten and 1 goal per game over the last three games in the series.

Boston had a phenomenal regular season last year, however, they blew a 3-1 series lead in the 1^st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers. Although not much is expected from the Blackhawks this season they looked great on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Opening Night, however, they will be playing for the 2^nd night in a row on Wednesday night with a less-than-stellar goalie. Given how rested the Bruins will be and how they will be looking to put last season’s collapse in the playoffs behind them I look for them to have a strong showing in their first game of the season which is why I will be taking the puck line for the Boston Bruins at -1.5 at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.