The Buffalo Sabres (26-33-6) travel to face off against the Boston Bruins (30-30-8) on Monday, March 17th. This game will be played at TD Garden in Boston and televised on ESPN+. The Bruins are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Sabres are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7:00 ET.

Sabres vs Bruins

The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Following a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings, the Sabres now sit at 26-33-6. Buffalo held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but Detroit responded with two goals in the second to secure the win. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark. Buffalo, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.

Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ only goal, a short-handed effort at 11:39 in the first period. Detroit’s Dylan Larkin tied it up at 7:49 in the second, and then added another goal later in the period to put the Red Wings ahead for good.

The Boston Bruins Are Coming Off A Win

Boston evened their record at 30-30-8 with a 2-0 win over the Kraken. The Bruins covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total set at 6 goals, falling well short of the line.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period, with Justin Brazeau scoring at 16:37, followed by a goal from Charlie Coyle at 10:03. The Bruins’ defense held Seattle scoreless, allowing just 23 shots on goal.

Buffalo Offense Breakdown

Buffalo’s offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, managing just one goal despite firing 32 shots on net. Alex Tuch scored his fifth goal of the season, coming at 8:21 in the first period on a shorthanded opportunity.

The Sabres recorded 13 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play chances. Tuch led the team with 5 shots on goal.

Bruins Offense Breakdown

Boston’s offense got off to a quick start in their game against the Kraken, with Justin Brazeau netting his 5th goal of the season just 3:23 into the first period. Charlie Coyle followed with his 2nd goal, coming on a power play at 10:03 in the first.

The Bruins fired 33 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period. They recorded 16 giveaways and picked up a total of 4 assists in the game.

Buffalo Team Defense

After taking a 1-0 lead, the Sabres’ defense gave up two goals in the second period, both on the power play, leading to a 2-1 loss. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the defense added 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Boston Team Defense

The Bruins’ defense was rock solid in their last game, shutting out the Kraken 2-0. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves with a perfect 100% save percentage. Boston’s defense also contributed 5 takeaways and 15 hits.

Sabres vs Bruins Trends

• Across their ten previous road games, Buffalo has an puck line mark of 4-6. Their straight up record in these matchups was 1-9 while averaging 2 goals per game.
• When looking at their past five home matchups, Boston has an puck line record of 3-2 while averaging 2 per game. The team went 1-4 overall in these games.
• Going back to their previous five games as the underdog, Boston has an puck line mark of 3-2 while going 2-3 straight up.
• Going back to their last ten games as the favorite, the Sabres have a straight up record of 4-6. But, their mark vs the puck line was just 2-8.

Sabres vs Bruins Prediction

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Bruins to secure a victory over the Sabres at home. With the moneyline currently set at -125, I’m locking in my bet on the Bruins straight-up.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Sabres to cover. Even if the Bruins manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Sabres should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.