Two teams that each played games last night, the Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres collide at the KeyBank Center in an Atlantic Division matchup. The matchup will get going at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 25, and you are able to see the game live on New England Sports Network.
Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Odds
Boston is 37-22 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 59 regular season matches, 31 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just one has pushed. As a road team this season, the Bruins are 18-11 SU.
Boston has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked fourth overall, and the teams successfully killed off 83.2 percent of its penalties.
The Bruins, as a collective unit, have been penalized 3.8 times per game overall this season, and 3.0 per game over its last five matchups. The teams been forced to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Averaging 25.1 saves per game with a .921 save percentage, Tuukka Rask (24-16-4) has been the best option in goal for Boston this year. Rask played last night, however, so the team might opt to rest him and instead turn to Anton Khudobin (13-9-4 record, .922 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Bruins. Marchand has 57 points on 24 goals and 33 assists, and has recorded two or more points 17 times. Bergeron has 27 goals and 27 assists to his credit (and has notched a point in 32 games).
Over on the other bench, Buffalo is 18-44 straight up (SU) and has lost 19.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 30 of its outings have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just four have pushed. It’s 8-22 SU at home this year.
The Sabres have converted on just 17.2 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.8 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo players have been whistled for penalties 3.6 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their past five contests. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner has denied 27.0 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Sabres. Lehner has 13 wins, 33 losses, and eight overtime losses and has maintained a pedestrian 2.95 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this season.
Jack Eichel (22 goals, 31 assists) will pace the attack for the home team.
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Sabres, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Over Boston’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- The Sabres are 5-16 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 14-31 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Boston (3-2 in shootouts) has more shootout experience coming into this one. Buffalo fell short in its lone shootout this season.
- Boston might hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The teams 15-10 in games decided by one goal, while Buffalo is only 8-21 in such games.
- The over has hit in three of Boston’s last five games.
- Buffalo has averaged 5.8 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 7.0 giveaways per game (the 5th-fewest in the NHL).
- Boston is ranked 17th this season with 9.8 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as it’s averaged 11.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.2 giveaways over its last five.
- This game features a couple of the more physical defenses in the league. Boston skaters have given out the leagues eighth-most hits per game (23.7) while the Sabres have registered the 11th-most (22.3).
