NHL betting preview (March 17): Sabres vs. Bruins odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Monday’s Atlantic Division matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.
Sabres vs. Bruins Odds
- Buffalo Sabres Moneyline: -105
- Boston Bruins Moneyline: -115
- Puck Line: Sabres +1.5 (-250), Bruins -1.5 (+200)
- Game Total: 6 (Over -105, Under -115)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Sabres (26-39 SU, 32-33 ATS, 37-21-7 O/U)
The Sabres begin a four-game road trip in Boston on Monday. This is the third of four meetings between the two clubs this season. The Bruins won the first game 3-1 on Dec. 21 and the second 7-2 on Jan. 28. They will meet again on April 6.
Buffalo has won two of three games since ending its six-game losing streak. The Sabres defeated the Edmonton Oilers (3-2) and Vegas Golden Knights (4-3 in a shootout), but a 7-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings was sandwiched between those victories. However, the road has not been kind to the Sabres this season, as they have gone 9-19-3 away from home.
From a betting perspective, the Sabres have won just six of 24 games in which they were listed as the underdog on the road. If a bettor had placed one unit on the Sabres in each of those games, they’d be down nine and a half units year-to-date.
Defense and goaltending have been the Sabres’ biggest issues this season, as only two teams have allowed more goals per 60 minutes. That’s unfortunate because they’ve actually been decent offensively. In fact, only the Washington Capitals have scored more five-on-five goals per 60 minutes than Buffalo this season, but the team’s underlying metrics are poor. According to Evolving Hockey, Buffalo ranks 27th in expected goals percentage at five-on-five.
Handicapping the Bruins (30-38 SU, 30-38 ATS, 33-34-1 O/U)
Despite trading Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo, Boston was flying high. The Bruins won their first two games following the trade deadline, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-0) and Florida Panthers (3-2), but they have since been brought back down to earth with back-to-back blowout losses.
The Bruins were doubled up by the Ottawa Senators (6-3) on Thursday after goaltender Jeremy Swayman allowed four goals on 15 shots in the first period. While Swayman did his best on Saturday against the Lightning, stopping 34 of 38 shots, the Bruins didn’t stand a chance, generating just 12 shots on goal in the game and lost 6-2.
As a result, the Bruins are now four points back of the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, and their playoff chances are fading fast. Monday’s matchup against the Sabres is one of five remaining home games for Boston, as it will play nine of its final 15 games on the road. The Bruins will begin a five-game road trip on Thursday.
Boston has received some contributions from newcomers like Casey Mittelstadt (1-2–3) and Marat Khusnutidinov (2-0–2), but David Pastrnak is still leading the way with two goals and two assists in four games since the trade deadline. Elias Lindholm also has a goal and three assists over his last four outings.
However, the Bruins weren’t that much better than the Sabres to begin with, and the current roster isn’t any better than Buffalo. Boston has been worse than Buffalo at five-on-five, and while their goaltending has been better on average, there’s a big gap between these two teams offensively. The Bruins rank 25th in five-on-five goals per 60 minutes this season.
Best bets for Bruins vs. Sabres
- Both teams to score 3+ goals (+200) at Sports Interaction
The Sabres have struggled to keep pucks out of their net, allowing three or more goals in 11 of their last 15 games. Bettors should expect a full 60-minute effort from the Bruins after Saturday’s awful showing. However, as mentioned, Buffalo has been strong offensively, averaging 3.48 goals per 60 minutes since Jan. 28. Given the likelihood that both teams will find the back of the net at least three times, +200 is a good price.