Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Looking to win big? The Sabres and Bruins face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Bruins are hosting the game at TD Garden in Boston, MA. The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 5.5 goals and the Bruins are the -1.5 favorite to win at home vs. the Sabres.
BUFFALO SABRES VS BOSTON BRUINS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Boston Bruins -1.5
This game will be played at TD Garden at 7:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE BOSTON BRUINS:
- Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Bruins picking up a 4-3 win.
- Take the Bruins on the moneyline
- On the spread, we like Sabres (+1.5)
Does Buffalo Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Buffalo dropped to 11-18-4 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres took the lead with a short-handed goal in the first period, but Detroit responded with two power-play goals in the second. Buffalo entered as the underdog on the puck line, and the total of 3 goals fell short of the pre-game line of 6.5.
Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, which came at 11:39 in the first period. Buffalo’s defense held the Red Wings scoreless until the 7:49 mark of the second period, when Dylan Larkin tied the game. Larkin then added another goal for Detroit at 14:38 in the second period.
Buffalo’s offense struggled in their recent 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring the team’s only goal. Tuch’s 5th goal of the season came shorthanded, 8:21 into the first period.
The Sabres took 32 shots on goal but were unable to find the net again. They recorded 13 giveaways in the game.
Buffalo’s defense had a strong first period, allowing no goals, but they gave up two in the second, both on power plays. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
Can the Bruins Hold Strong at Home?
Boston moved above .500 with a 2-0 win over the Kraken, bringing their record to 17-14-4. The Bruins, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total was set at 6 goals, but the game’s 2 total goals fell well short of that mark.
Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period. Justin Brazeau scored at 16:37, and Charlie Coyle added another at 10:03. The Bruins’ defense held the Kraken scoreless, with Jeremy Swayman stopping all 23 shots he faced.
Boston’s offense was limited to two goals in their 2-0 victory over the Kraken. Justin Brazeau opened the scoring with his 5th goal of the season, while Charlie Coyle added his 2nd on a power play. The Bruins fired 33 shots on goal but also had 16 giveaways.
Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period, with Brazeau scoring 3:23 into the game and Coyle following at the 10:03 mark. Charlie McAvoy picked up his 3rd assist of the season, while Brad Marchand earned his 7th assist on Coyle’s power-play goal.
Boston’s defense was rock solid in their last game, leading to a 2-0 win over Seattle. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a 100% save percentage, and the Bruins’ defense added 5 takeaways and 15 hits. They also blocked 27 shots from the Kraken.