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NHL 23 sim prediction: Who will win the 2023 Winter Classic?

By Frank Mueller

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 22: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with David Pastrnak #88, Hampus Lindholm #27 and Brad Marchand #63 after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the TD Garden on December 22, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 22: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with David Pastrnak #88, Hampus Lindholm #27 and Brad Marchand #63 after scoring a goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at the TD Garden on December 22, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) /
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Comparing Defenses

The Boston Bruins have been very good at keeping the puck out of their net this season. A big part of that is due to how well their goaltending has been, but their defense has been really good as well. Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm are two athletes on the Boston Bruins defense that are going to have to be on top of their game to shut down the Pittsburgh Penguins offense. When it comes to NHL 23, the Bruins only have a team defensive rating of 88 Overall. That is a fairly decent rating, and I expect some of the stars on this defense to really clamp down and prevent Pittsburgh from getting many scoring opportunities.

The defense of Pittsburgh can be a little shaky at times, especially if Kris Letang doesn’t participate in the 2023 Winter Classic. Right now, Kris Letang is being evaluated for a lower-body injury and if he does not get cleared to play against the Bruins on January 2, that could spell big trouble for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kris Letang is the highest-rated defenseman that the Pittsburgh Penguins have in NHL 23 at an 87 Overall. He is also a two-time Stanley Cup Champion and if he ends up playing, he will know better than anyone on how he can contribute to stopping the high-powered Bruins offense. Marcus Pettersson, Jan Rutta, and Brian Dumoulin are really going to have to step it up in this game and play some of their best hockey of the season, if they plan on stopping the Bruins offense. Any mistakes on defense, especially if Kris Letang can’t play, can not only cost them a goal, but it can also cost them winning the 2023 Winter Classic.

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