Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Prediction, NHL Odds
The series shifts back to Boston for Game 6, as the Bruins look to stave off elimination once again in Round 1 versus the Buffalo Sabres.
It took an extra period to declare a winner on Tuesday night, as David Pastrnak’s breakaway goal kept the Bruins alive, cutting the series lead down to 3-2. The Sabres are slight favourites in Game 6, listed at -118 on the NHL odds. The OVER/UNDER is set at 5.5, with puck drop from TD Garden set for 7:30 pm EST.
Sabres vs. Bruins NHL Betting Odds
Game 5 was the closest this series has been, going to overtime for the first time. The 2-1 final was the second time a contest has hit the UNDER, and also only the second one-goal game. With the series at 3-2 Sabres, the NHL Futures Board has the Sabres as the -450 favourite to move on. Buffalo has won both of the games played in Boston so far, with Game 6 being their last trip to TD Garden until next season.
In his post-game interview, overtime hero David Pastrnak told Boston fans to be loud and that the B’s will be shooting the puck. He fired seven shots on goal in Game 5, and taking him to have 5+ shots in Game 6 pays out at +220.
Pasta’s six points are tied for the series lead with Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, who was pointless in Game 5. Take either of them to have a 2+ point game on Friday at +195 and +370, respectively.
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo got off on the right foot in Game 5, scoring their first power-play goal of the postseason at 3:35 of the first period. Rasmus Dahlin scored his first career playoff goal, banging home a cross-ice feed from Jason Zucker. Their power play is now 1-for-20 in the series.
Alex Lyon had another great performance in goal for the Sabres, stopping 27 of 29 in the loss. His save percentage is an impressive .953 in four appearances. He has only given up four goals so far, and his 1.18 goals against average is the second-best this playoffs. Forward Noah Ostlund was knocked out of Game 5 and is expected to miss some time with a lower-body injury. The bottom six forward has had a good series so far, notching a goal and an assist.
The Sabres have not won a playoff round since 2007 and will have another shot to end it on the road in Game 6. The fourth win is always the toughest, especially against a much more experienced Boston squad.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins proved they were not going to roll over and die after being embarrassed at home in Game 4. Boston rebounded from that 6-1 loss with one of their most complete efforts in Game 5 to take the series back to TD Garden for one more game.
Coming into Game 5, their penalty kill was a perfect 17-for-17, but their streak was broken early in the game, going down 1-0. They did well to battle back in that period, outshooting the Sabres 9-5, taking some of the buzz out of the home crowd. They got their first goal of the game midway through the second, as Elias Lindholm fired a loose puck into the net for his second of the series.The game was quiet through the rest of regulation before Pastrnak cashed in on a partial breakaway, with a beauty backhand forehand tuck for his second of the postseason.
Veteran Viktor Arvidsson did not play in Game 5 and is not expected to be back for the game on Friday either. He has been great for the Bruins in round one, scoring twice in their Game 2 victory.
