Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 5/1/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2021

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NHL Network

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+313) Bruins (-375)

TD Garden is the site where Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins (29-14-6) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (13-31-7) on Saturday. The odds on this contest have the Sabres coming in at +313 and the Bruins are at -375. The over/under is set at 5.5.

The Sabres will be looking to get a win in their next outing after their 5-2 loss against the Bruins their last time on the ice. The offensive zone starts for them sat at 57.1% and they had a PDO of 97.5 for this one. They accumulated 21 face-off wins at even strength and were beaten on 26 attempts to gain puck control. Their Fenwick came in at 35 and the Fenwick against was 44, giving them a Fenwick percentage of 44.3%. The Corsi for the Sabres was sitting at 43 and the Corsi against was at 49 meaning they had a Corsi rate of 46.7%. Buffalo accumulated 6 penalty mins in this game. Moreover, they had 2 chances with extra men on the ice but didn't get a goal. The Sabres could have played much better offensively in the defeat. In the matchup, they scored on 2 out of the 31 shots they put on net.

Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 130 power play opportunities (27th in the league) and have racked up 29 goals in those chances. The Sabres have had 1,705 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .897. Buffalo has taken 1,450 shots and has a shot percentage of 8.3%. At even strength, the Sabres have allowed the opponent to score 147 goals while scoring 93 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo is sitting with 134 power play opportunities and they have added 28 goals during those advantages, earning them a percentage of 20.90%. For the current campaign, they have recorded 33 points and their points percentage is .324. With regard to their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have accumulated 121 goals (27th in the NHL) on the year and have given up 176.

The man in net for this game is Dustin Tokarski. Tokarski has participated in 46 contests over the course of his hockey career. He has a record of 12-20-7 and he was named the starter in 37 games. Opponents have scored 120 goals against Tokarski in his professional career and his goals against average per game is 3.00. Tokarski has seen 1,270 shot attempts against him and has gathered 1,150 saves. His save percentage currently sits at .906 in his 2,401 mins played. Over the course of his career, Tokarski has recorded 17 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .459.

In their win over Buffalo, Boston wrapped up this game with a 53.3% Corsi rating. These Corsi stats tell us the story of the kind of game Boston played and they showed out in this one. Their Fenwick rate came in at 55.7% by way of having a Fenwick of 44 and the Sabres earning a 35 Fenwick. Their PDO was 103 and their percentage of oZS was 43.1%. The Bruins scored 5 goals of the 40 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 2 power play attempts in this matchup and notched 1 out of those chances.

Boston has put up 1,609 shots (3rd in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 8.70%, while allowing the opposition 1,368 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 86.23% on their opponents 167 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.3%. They have recorded 142 power play opportunities and they have a power play percentage of 21.13%. The Bruins have racked up 110 goals at even strength and 30 goals (16th in pro hockey) while having a power play advantage. They have granted a total of 119 goals to be scored by way of 96 goals at even strength and 23 goals while they were shorthanded. This season, the Boston Bruins have tallied 140 goals, 64 points, and a points percentage of .653.

Across the rink you are expected to see Jeremy Swayman patrolling the crease. He has a tally of 194 stops out of 205 shots taken against him, giving him a percentage of .946. Swayman has compiled a lifetime record of 5-2-0 and has participated in 7 games. He has been a starter 7 games and his ice time sits at 422 minutes. Swayman's quality start percentage comes out to 85.7% and he has 6 quality starts in his NHL career. His opposition is averaging 1.57 goals per game and he has surrendered 11 goals in total.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+313)

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