Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 12/21/2024 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+172) Bruins (-210)

TD Garden is the site where the Boston Bruins (17-13-3) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (11-17-4) on Saturday. The moneyline on this matchup has Buffalo at +172 and Boston is opening at -210. The over/under comes in at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the losing side of the ice with a 6-1 defeat against the Canadiens in their previous contest . Buffalo accumulated 12 penalty mins for this matchup. The Sabres had a below average offensive outing in this loss. Moreover, they had 5 power play opportunities but weren't able to score. In the game, they converted 1 of the 21 shots they launched.

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In the matter of scoring goals, the Buffalo Sabres have accumulated 92 goals (23rd in the NHL) on the campaign and have given up 109. For the current season, they have recorded 26 points and their points percentage sits at .406. Buffalo is sitting with 94 power play chances and they have notched 13 goals out of those tries, giving them a rate of 13.83%. When playing at even strength, the Sabres have surrendered 85 goals while notching 79 as an offensive unit. Buffalo has tried 888 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 10.4%. The Sabres so far have had 940 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .884. Buffalo Sabres opponents have tallied 106 power play tries (6th in the league) and have a total of 24 goals in those attempts.

The player between the pipes for this game is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has taken the ice for 122 contests during his professional hockey career. He has amassed an overall record of 55-51-13 and he has started in 118 games. Opponents have notched 348 goals versus Luukkonen in his professional hockey career and his goals against average per contest is 3.62. Luukkonen has seen 3,568 shots against him and has recorded 3,220 total saves. He has a save percentage of .902 during his 5,764 mins in the crease. In his professional hockey career, Luukkonen is sitting with 66 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .559.

In their last contest, Boston squared up with the Flames in a game where the Bruins took home the win by a tally of 4-3. They had 1 power play chance in this matchup but weren't able to score a goal. The Bruins converted 4 goals out of the 35 shots on goal they pursued.

The Bruins have tallied 71 goals at even strength and 15 goals (26th in professional hockey) while on the power play. Boston has taken 930 shots (17th in the league) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 9.25%, while allowing the opposition 906 shots. So far this season, the Boston Bruins have tallied 86 goals, 37 points, in addition to a points percentage of .561. They have allowed 104 goals to be scored by of a combination of 79 goals at even strength and 25 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a total of 116 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 12.93%. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 77.48% on the other teams 111 power play chances, and their save percentage is currently 88.5%.

Across the ice you will find Jeremy Swayman in net. Teams are averaging 2.88 goals per game and he has relinquished 366 goals overall. Swayman's quality start percentage sits at 62.2% and he has made 92 quality starting assignments in his pro career. He was named a starter in 148 contests and has played 7,626 mins. Swayman holds a career mark of 90-43-17 and has been in net for 155 games. He has recorded 3,884 stops out of 4,250 shots tried, which gives him a save % of .914.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Buffalo (+172)

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