The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins meet Thursday in NHL action at the TD Garden. Here’s a Bruins vs Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Bruins vs Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres lost to the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets, and they play the Capitals next. The Sabres have split their last 8 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3 goals per game and are scoring 21.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Jason Zucker leads Buffalo with 4 goals, Zach Benson has 7 assists, and Tage Thompson has 43 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.1 goals per game and are killing 91.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 22 goals on 271 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 2 goals on 31 shots.
Boston Bruins Betting Preview
The Boston Bruins lost to the Senators, beat the Islanders, and they play the Hurricanes next. The Bruins have lost 7 of their last 9 games.
The Boston Bruins are averaging 3.25 goals per game and are scoring on 22 percent of their power play opportunities. Morgan Geekie leads Boston with 8 goals, David Pasternak has 9 assists and Viktor Arvidsson has 27 shots on goal. Defensively, the Boston Bruins are allowing 3.67 goals per game and are killing 81.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jeremy Swayman has allowed 24 goals on 211 shots faced, while Joonas Korpisalo has given up 18 goals on 138 shots.
Why the Boston Bruins will win
- The Sabres have lost each of their last six road games.
- The home team has won six of the Sabres’ last seven games.
- The Bruins have covered the puck line in 18 of their last 19 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in six of their last seven night games at TD Garden.
- The Sabres have lost the third period in each of their last six Thursday games.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Bruins have lost each of their last seven night games at TD Garden against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Sabres have won five of their last six road games against the Bruins after coming off overtime.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in five of their last six games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Bruins have failed to cover the puck line in three of their last four night games following a home win.
- The Bruins have lost the third period in six of their last seven games when tied after the second period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Bruins’ last eight home night games following a home win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last four night games at TD Garden have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Four of the last five games between two teams from the Atlantic Division have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last 11 night games.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Bruins’ last nine games.
Boston Bruins Player Prop Facts
- Morgan Geekie has scored a goal in 10 of the Bruins’ last 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Elias Lindholm has recorded at least one point in each of the Bruins’ last eight night games at TD Garden.
- David Pastrnak has recorded at least one assist in nine of the Bruins’ last 10 home games.
- Morgan Geekie has scored a goal in each of his last five appearances – longest active streak in the league.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in six of the Sabres’ last seven road games.
- Joshua Norris has recorded at least one point in each of his last five appearances against the Bruins.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least four shots in each of his last four appearances – longest active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Boston Bruins rank 27th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.67).
- The Boston Bruins have suffered the equal-largest margin of defeat in a road game this season (5-goals @ Senators on October, 27).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (91.18%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank T1st in the league for power play goals against this season (3).
Bruins vs Sabres Prediction
The Sabres rent playing the better hockey at the moment and have earned points in four straight games, but the price isn’t enough to pull the trigger. The Sabres also have yet to win on the road, while four of the Bruins five wins this season have come on their home ice. I also refuse to believe the Bruins are this bad defensively. They’ll figure it out eventually. As I’ve said before over the years, the Sabres are one of those teams that will let you down once you start to believe in the hype. Pick ’em prices, give me the Bruins at home.