Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 12/7/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+215) Bruins (-275)

The Buffalo Sabres (10-14-2) are en route to TD Garden on Thursday where they will try to defeat the Boston Bruins (17-4-3). The line on this contest has the Sabres at +215 while the Bruins are priced at -275. The over/under is 7.

The Buffalo Sabres will need a bounce back game after taking a 5-3 loss against the Red Wings their last time out. Buffalo tallied 8 mins in the box in this game. Furthermore, they had 5 power play opportunities and netted 2 goals. The Sabres had a middle of the road showing in the loss. In the outing, they tallied a score on 3 out of the 32 shots they put on net.

Get all of our Free NHL Picks

In relation to their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 74 goals (17th in the NHL) on the season and have allowed 90. For the year, they have scored 22 points and their points percentage comes in at .423. Buffalo skates onto the rink with 76 power play chances and they have scored 12 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 15.79%. When playing at even strength, the Sabres have allowed 74 goals while notching 62 of their own. Buffalo has taken 758 shots and holds a shot percentage of 9.8%. The Sabres so far have had 775 shots tried against them and hold a save percentage of .884. Buffalo Sabres opponents have totaled 85 power play opportunities (9th in pro hockey) and have a total of 16 goals in those attempts.

The player in the crease for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Throughout his time in hockey, Luukkonen is sitting with 26 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .464. He has a save percentage of .899 for his 3,334 mins played. Luukkonen has had 1,835 shots against him and has accrued 1,650 saves. Opponents have notched 185 goals versus Luukkonen in his NHL career and his goals against rate is 3.33. He has accumulated a mark of 26-24-7 and got the start in 56 games. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 59 contests throughout his NHL career.

In their last contest, Boston opposed the Blue Jackets in an outing where the Bruins ended up with the victory by a tally of 3-1. They had 6 attempts on the power play in this matchup and scored 2 out of those chances. The Bruins recorded 3 goals of the 28 shots on goal they took.

The Bruins have tallied 62 goals at even strength and 18 goals (11th in hockey) while having more men on the ice. Boston has attempted 763 shots (12th in the NHL) and has earned a shooting percentage of 10.48%, while allowing the other team 763 shots. This season, the Boston Bruins have accumulated 80 goals, 37 points, as well as a points percentage of .771. They have allowed 59 goals to be scored by way of 49 goals at even strength and 10 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a tally of 79 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 22.78%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 89.01% on their oppositions 91 power play tries, and their save percentage is currently 92.3%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Linus Ullmark in net. Teams are averaging 2.51 goals per contest and he has relinquished 526 goals in total. Ullmark's rate of quality starts comes out to 63.8% and he has earned 134 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He has started in 210 games and has played 12,590 minutes. Ullmark has earned a lifetime mark of 124-66-17 and has been in goal for 219 games. He is sitting with 5,975 saves out of 6,501 shots attempted, giving him a save % of .919.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+215)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here