PREMIUM
Rogers' TOTAL MASSACRE >> SIZZLING 35-18 L53!
(NHL) Buffalo vs. Boston,
Total: 5.50 | -115.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -115.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The Boston Bruins have won four straight and nine of their last 10 games. They are now 33-11-8 (74), as they inch closer to both first place in the Atlantic Division and the best overall record in the league (Lightning lead the Atlantic, as well as the NHL with 77 points). The Bruins welcome the Eastern Conference-worst Buffalo Sabres (15-29-10, just 40 points) to the TD Garden on Saturday night. Buffalo snapped a four-game skid with a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders in the finale of a five-game homestand and have actually split its two matchups with Boston this season
Buffalo: Jack Eichel (22 goals & 53 points) scored one goal and set up another for the second straight game and has collected 18 points over his last 13 contests. Linemate Sam Reinhart (11 goals & 26 points) is also on a roll, capping a three-point night with the game-winning goal against the Islanders to give him four tallies and nine assists over the past 10 games. Goalie Robin Lehner has played both games against Boston this season and is expected to be in net for a fifth consecutive game, here. He is just 12-20-7 on the year and is only 4-11-3 (2.71 GAA & .922 SP) lifetime against Boston,
Boston: "We're trying to win every game that's on the schedule in front of us," head coach Bruce Cassidy said. "If we catch (Tampa Bay) then great, and if they play great then that's the way it goes. Tuukka Rask got a night off as teh Bruins drille dteh Rangers 6-1 last Wednesday but will put his 21-start point streak on the line (19-0-2 with a 1.61 goals-against average and .941 save percentage), as he hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 26. Patrice Bergeron (21 goals & 51 points scored twice against the Rangers to give him eight goals in his last nine games and 13 in 15 games since the start of the new year. Brad Marchand returned from a five-game suspension to collect an assist and run his point streak to six games. Defensemen Zdeno Chara is second in the NHL with a plus-29 while teammates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were tied for third at plus-26.
The pick: Expecting Buffalo to too many past Rusk is a lot to ask (see above) but the Bruins are averaging 3.27 GPG (4th) on the season and Buffalo allows 3.36 GPG on the road. The last time Buffalo came to Boston, the Sabres won 5-4 in OT. Make the Over an 8* play.
Buffalo: Jack Eichel (22 goals & 53 points) scored one goal and set up another for the second straight game and has collected 18 points over his last 13 contests. Linemate Sam Reinhart (11 goals & 26 points) is also on a roll, capping a three-point night with the game-winning goal against the Islanders to give him four tallies and nine assists over the past 10 games. Goalie Robin Lehner has played both games against Boston this season and is expected to be in net for a fifth consecutive game, here. He is just 12-20-7 on the year and is only 4-11-3 (2.71 GAA & .922 SP) lifetime against Boston,
Boston: "We're trying to win every game that's on the schedule in front of us," head coach Bruce Cassidy said. "If we catch (Tampa Bay) then great, and if they play great then that's the way it goes. Tuukka Rask got a night off as teh Bruins drille dteh Rangers 6-1 last Wednesday but will put his 21-start point streak on the line (19-0-2 with a 1.61 goals-against average and .941 save percentage), as he hasn't lost in regulation since Nov. 26. Patrice Bergeron (21 goals & 51 points scored twice against the Rangers to give him eight goals in his last nine games and 13 in 15 games since the start of the new year. Brad Marchand returned from a five-game suspension to collect an assist and run his point streak to six games. Defensemen Zdeno Chara is second in the NHL with a plus-29 while teammates Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were tied for third at plus-26.
The pick: Expecting Buffalo to too many past Rusk is a lot to ask (see above) but the Bruins are averaging 3.27 GPG (4th) on the season and Buffalo allows 3.36 GPG on the road. The last time Buffalo came to Boston, the Sabres won 5-4 in OT. Make the Over an 8* play.
