The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins meet Monday 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 Red Wings, beat the Golden Knights, and play the Hockey Club, Wild, and Jets next. The Sabres have lost seven of their last nine games and have allowed three or more goals in nine of their last 12 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.12 goals per game and are scoring 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 34 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 40 assists and Alex Tuch has 158 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.52 goals per game and are killing 76.1 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Devon Levi has given up 33 goals on 258 shots faced, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 149 goals on 1,333 shots.
Boston Bruins Betting Preview
The Boston Bruins lost to the Senators and Lightning, and they play the Golden Knights, Sharks, and Kings next. The Bruins have lost 10 of their last 13 games and have allowed 12 goals in their last two games.
The Boston Bruins are averaging 2.71 goals per game and are scoring on 15 percent of their power play opportunities. David Pastrnak leads Boston with 34 goals, Pavel Zacha has 27 assists and Elias Lindholm has 123 shots on goal. Defensively, the Boston Bruins are allowing 3.19 goals per game and are killing 76.8 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jeremy Swayman has allowed 143 goals on 1,385 shots faced, while Joonas Korpisalo has given up 57 goals on 546 shots.
Why the Boston Bruins will win
- The Bruins have won each of their last nine games against the Sabres following a loss.
- The Sabres have lost each of their last eight road games.
- The Bruins have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 11 home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight night games following a win.
- The Sabres have lost the third period in each of their last six road games when tied after the second period.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Bruins have lost each of their last seven night games following a loss.
- The Sabres have won four of their last seven games as underdogs following a shootout loss.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last five night games after coming off a shootout.
- The Bruins have failed to cover the puck line in five of their last six games as favorites following a home loss.
- The Sabres have won the second period in each of their last four games as road underdogs following a shootout loss.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Boston Bruins rank 29th in the league in power play percentage this season (15.00%).
- The Boston Bruins rank 25th in the league for goals per game this season (2.71).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 30th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.52).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 27th in the league in power play percentage this season (17.20%).
Bruins vs Sabres Injury Report
The Bruins will be without Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy.
The Buffalo Sabres will be without Felix Sandstrom, Viktor Neuchev, and Jiri Kulich. Josh Norris and JJ Peterka are questionable.
Bruins vs Sabres Prediction
I’m not excited to back either the Bruins or Sabres, two teams in a lengthy slump and going nowhere fast. However, somebody has to win, so I’m going to lean toward the Bruins at home. The Sabres have just nine road wins this season, while the Bruins have seen 19 of their 30 wins come at home. The Bruins have also won seven of the last 10 games against the Sabres, and the Sabres have lost seven straight road games as an underdog. The Sabres have lost 15 of their last 19 games as a road underdog. The price is cheap. I’ll side with the Bruins at home on Monday night.