Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 3/2/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+240) Bruins (-300)

TD Garden is where the Boston Bruins (47-8-5) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (31-24-4) on Thursday. The odds on this game have Buffalo at +240 while Boston is at -300. The over/under is set at 7.

The Buffalo Sabres will look to clean up some issues after taking a 5-3 defeat to the Blue Jackets their last time out. The Sabres offense didn't overly impress in the loss. For the game, they tallied a score on 3 out of the 41 shots they tried. Moreover, they had 3 power play opportunities and were able to net 1 goal. Buffalo tallied 2 penalty mins for this game.

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Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 170 power play tries (29th in hockey) and have tallied 47 goals in those chances. The Sabres have seen 1,943 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .893. Buffalo has attempted 1,917 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.6%. While at even strength, the Sabres have given up 160 goals while earning 172 of their own. Buffalo comes into the game with 199 power play chances and they have scored 50 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 25.13%. For the season, they have 66 points and their points percentage is sitting at .559. When it comes to their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have earned 222 goals (3rd in the NHL) on the season and have conceded 207.

The man in goal for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen has accumulated 16 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .421. His save percentage is at .899 for his 2,184 mins on the ice. Luukkonen has had 1,232 shots against him and has accrued 1,108 saves. Opponents have been able to score 124 goals against Luukkonen in his career and his goals against rate is 3.41. He has amassed a win-loss record of 18-16-4 and he has gotten the start in 38 games. Luukkonen has been involved in 38 games throughout his NHL career.

In their last game, Boston faced off against the Flames in an outing where the Bruins ended up with the victory by a final score of 4-3. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this one and tallied 1 out of those opportunities. The Bruins netted 4 goals out of the 20 shots on goal they were seeking.

Over the course of the season, the Boston Bruins have accumulated 224 goals, 99 points, and a points percentage of .825. They have allowed 126 goals to be scored by way of 99 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they were shorthanded. The Bruins have 176 goals at even strength and 48 goals (6th in hockey) while on the power play. They have recorded 205 power play opportunities and they have a power play rate of 23.41%. Boston has attempted 1,976 shots (9th in the league) and has earned a shooting percentage of 11.34%, while allowing their opponents 1,786 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill percentage of 86.70% on the other teams 203 power play opportunities, and their save percentage currently sits at 92.9%.

Across the ice you are going to see Jeremy Swayman defending the net. He has a tally of 1,835 saves out of the 1,998 shots attempted, giving him a percentage of .918. Swayman has accrued a lifetime mark of 45-21-7 and has played in 76 games. He has been a starter 71 contests and his ice time sits at 4,332 mins. Swayman's rate of quality starts comes in at 66.2% and he has accumulated 47 quality starting assignments in his pro career. Teams are averaging 2.26 goals per contest and he has yielded 163 goals overall.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+240)

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