The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres meet Tuesday in NHL Game 2 at the KeyBank Center. Here’s a Sabres vs. Bruins Prediction. This article will include a Sabres vs. Bruins Pick.
Boston Bruins Betting Preview
The Boston Bruins need a win to even up the series at 1-1. The Bruins have lost 6 of their last 8 games.
The Boston Bruins are averaging 3 goals per game and are scoring on 33.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Morgan Geekie leads Boston with 1 goal, David Pasternak has 2 assists and Elias Lindholm has 2 shots on goal. Defensively, the Boston Bruins are allowing 4 goals per game and are killing 100 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Jeremy Swayman has allowed 3 goals on 37 shots faced. Check out another game on Tuesday night between the Canadiens and Lightning.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres look for another win to take a 2-0 series lead. The Sabres have won 7 of their last 10 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 4 goals per game and are scoring 0 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 2 goals, Alex Tuch has 1 assist, and Conor Timmins has 4 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 66.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has allowed 3 goals on 20 shots faced.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Bruins have lost eight of their last nine Game 2s of a playoff series.
- The Sabres have won each of their last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in five of their last six games.
- The Sabres have won the third period in each of their last seven home games against the Bruins.
Why the Boston Bruins will win
- The Bruins have won eight of their last nine road games against the Sabres following a road loss.
- The Sabres have lost four of their last six games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Sabres’ last 10 games at KeyBank Center.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight games as home favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Bruins have won the second period in seven of their last eight road games against the Sabres following a road loss.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Sabres’ last eight night games against the Bruins following a win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Twelve of the Bruins’ last 13 Tuesday games as underdogs have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the last six 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 six games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in eight of the Bruins’ last 10 night games.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Alex Tuch has scored a goal in five of the Sabres’ last six games.
- Tage Thompson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Sabres’ last four games against the Bruins.
- Jason Zucker has scored three goals against the Bruins this season—equal to the most against any opponent.
Boston Bruins Player Prop Facts
- Morgan Geekie has scored the first goal in three of the Bruins’ last four games.
- David Pastrnak has scored a goal in each of the Bruins’ last four games against the Sabres.
- David Pastrnak has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 11 Tuesday appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- David Pastrnak has recorded at least one shot in each of his last 72 appearances—the longest active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 4th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (81.90%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 5th in the league for goals per game this season (3.45).
- The Boston Bruins rank 31st in the league for power play goals against this season (64).
- The Boston Bruins rank 2nd in the league in penalty minutes this season (978).
Sabres vs Bruins Prediction
It’s going to be interesting to see how the Bruins respond in game 2. The Bruins could come out motivated knowing they should have a game in hand already and look to right a wrong. The Bruins could also come out flat and discouraged after blowing such a game. Regardless, I know Buffalo is buzzing right now and the Sabres have to be feeling great.
The Sabres were dead in the water and scored four goals within six minutes to completely rob the Bruins of a win. Those sorts of wins sometimes feel like you took a game and a half in a series. There’s a little extra to them. They can have a carryover effect. I liked the Sabres entering the playoffs and wins like that add confidence. I’m going to side with the Sabres.