The Buffalo Sabres (17-14-2) visit the Boston Bruins (28-4-3) Saturday in a divisional matchup. Face-off from TD Garden is set for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Sabres vs. Bruins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Sabres are riding hot on a 5-game win streak that includes a 6-3 win in their last game vs. Detroit Thursday. That win came at the hands of RW Kyle Okposo and his hat trick that included 2 goals during the team’s 4-goal second period.
The Bruins are coming off a 3-1 win vs. New Jersey Wednesday night that came just 5 days after beating that same New Jersey team. It was the defense and goaltending in that game that impressed for the Bruins as G Linus Ullmark posted 30 saves on an SV% of .968.
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Sabres at Bruins odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Sabres +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Bruins -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Sabres +1.5 (-120) | Bruins -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Sabres at Bruins projected goalies
Craig Anderson (7-4-1, 2.65 GAA, .922 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Linus Ullmark (20-1-1, 1.90 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO)
The 41-year-old veteran is expected to receive the start between the pipes Saturday. He was solid in a 3-1 loss to Boston earlier this year with 27 saves on 30 shots. He’s 2-0-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .942 SV% in 3 starts this month.
Ullmark has shown no signs of slowing down as he’s 7-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .943 SV% this month. He hasn’t faced the Sabres this year, but it’s all the same to the frontrunner for the Vezina trophy.
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Sabres at Bruins picks and predictions
Prediction
Bruins 4, Sabres 2
Moneyline
AVOID.
The Sabres are hot right now, but the Bruins are simply the better team. This is the second of the 4-game season series between these teams, and I see the Bruins winning the series 3-1, including a win in this one. And while I am confident in the Bruins, the moneyline is just a bit too strong for me to advise you to risk your money on this bet when there are better ones on the board.
Puck line/Against the spread
BET BRUINS -1.5 (+100).
The Bruins will end the Sabres’ win streak and will likely do so by 2 or more goals. As of late, the Bruins have shown their poise by winning close games. But this is a game that if the Bruins let the Sabres get close and stay in it for too long, they could lose. The Bruins will need to come out of the gates hot and not stop that momentum throughout the game. If they do that then this will be your best bet for this game.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 6.5 (-105).
Boston won the last matchup Nov. 12 by a 3-1 score. Buffalo’s offense has been producing as they have been averaging 5 goals per game over their 5-game winning streak, but none of those wins came against Boston. The Bruins are a top team in the NHL, and that is largely due to their defense, as their offense doesn’t need to put up so many goals. The Under here is safer but with 2 good teams there is always a risk that the Over will be eclipsed.
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