NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Sabres vs. Senators
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Team Records:
Boston: 39-30-10
Buffalo: 45-27-10
Tonight, 7:05pm
Sportsbook odds: Boston +150 +1.5 (-230) Over 5 (-105)
Buffalo -170 -1.5 (+190) Under 5 (-115)
Sabres vs. Senators
The Battle of the B’s commences in Buffalo on Thursday night. On the line is a berth in the Conference semi-finals.
While Buffalo gained 100 points during the regular season, it was the Boston Bruins that had a better record down the stretch. Boston also won the season series 4-2 making a mismatch look more like a closely contested seven game series.
The Boston Bruins owned the worst offense in the NHL all season long and failed to score a power play goal in 14 of their last 15 games. Although the club went 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, it was not thanks to an offensive outburst.
Instead, it was Tuukka Rask, as was all season long, that held this team together and allowed them to gain a six seed in the Eastern Conference.
He led the NHL in goals against average this season with a measly 1.97 average but even more impressive was his 4-1-1 record with a 1.20 goals against average and .957 save percentage in his last seven games.
The Buffalo Sabres surprised everyone this year and ran away with the Northeast Division. They battled injury and adversity but somehow emerged as an elite NHL team. Buffalo went 5-5 down the stretch but won their last tune up game before the start of the playoffs.
The Buffalo Sabres are not exactly a goal scoring machine. Like the Boston Bruins, they struggle to score goals. Thomas Vanek returned from injury early last week and tallied five goals in the two games that he played. It was a welcome injection of offense that the Sabres had been lacking. Derek Roy continued his solid play down the stretch and had four points in his final two games.
Injured forwards Jochen Hecht and Tim Connolly are expected back for Game 1 making a bleak offense at least looking average. And average is all you need when you have Ryan Miller in net!
Game 1 and the rest of the series are going to be all about goaltending. Tuukka Rask and Ryan Miller were two of the best in the NHL during the regular season and their play down the stretch has taught us to expect much of the same. Goals will be at a premium in what promises to be a long series.
I like the Bruins in the first game of this series. They have won three straight and were an impressive 21-13-7 on the road during the regular season. The over/under is currently set at 5 goals.
If it creeps any higher, it might be worth a look as well.
NHL Betting Trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Boston’s last 11 games when playing on the road against Buffalo
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Buffalo’s last 11 games when playing at home against Boston
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo’s last 5 games at home
Buffalo is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Boston
Pick: Boston Bruins in a Game 1 upset
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