Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 3/17/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins

Date: Monday, March 17, 2025

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NESN

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+126) Bruins (-152)

The Boston Bruins (30-29-8) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (25-33-6) at TD Garden on Monday. The moneyline on this game has Buffalo at +126 while Boston is priced at -152. The over/under has been set at 6.

The Buffalo Sabres had a rough game after their 7-3 loss against the Red Wings their last time out. The Sabres played like an average offensive team in the loss. In the game, they were able to notch a goal on 3 out of the 26 shots they tried. Additionally, they had 3 power play chances and were able to score 1 goal. Buffalo recorded 83 penalty mins in this matchup.

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Buffalo Sabres opponents have earned 196 power play tries (7th in professional hockey) and have tallied 47 goals in those chances. The Sabres have had 1,860 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .878. Buffalo has attempted 1,773 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 11.3%. When playing at even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 179 goals while earning 169 on offense. Buffalo has tallied 184 power play chances and they have notched 31 goals out of those attempts, earning them a percentage of 16.85%. For the year, they have recorded 56 points and their points percentage comes in at .438. Pertaining to their scoring capabilities, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 200 goals (13th in the National Hockey League) this year and have allowed 226.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen has been in goal for 148 contests throughout his professional hockey career. He has accumulated an overall mark of 68-62-14 and he has started in 144 games. The opposition has racked up 430 goals versus Luukkonen in his professional hockey career and his goals against rate is 4.43. Luukkonen has seen 4,264 shot attempts against him and has recorded 3,834 saves. His save percentage sits at .899 in his 5,825 mins in the crease. During his career on the ice, Luukkonen has accrued 77 quality starts and his quality starts percentage is .535.

In their last contest, Boston faced the Senators in a game where the Bruins took the defeat by a mark of 6-3. The Bruins netted 3 goals of the 25 shots on goal they pursued. They had 1 power play attempt in this matchup but were not able to net one.

So far this season, the Boston Bruins have tallied 182 goals, 68 points, in addition to a points percentage of .507. They have allowed 211 goals to be scored by of a combination of 163 goals at even strength and 48 goals while they were shorthanded. The Bruins are sitting with 152 goals at even strength and 30 goals (28th in the league) while on the power play. They have earned 199 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 15.08%. Boston has put up 1,837 shots (19th in the NHL) and has a shooting percentage of 9.91%, while allowing the other team 1,907 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 76.59% on the other teams 205 power play opportunities, and their save percentage comes in at 88.9%.

On the other side of the ice you will find Jeremy Swayman in the crease. His opponents are averaging 3.39 goals/game and he has surrendered 434 goals in total. Swayman's quality start rate sits at 60.7% and he has made 105 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He has been a starter 173 games and his ice time sits at 7,687 mins. Swayman is the owner of a career record of 99-55-21 and has been in net for 180 contests. He has compiled 4,535 stops out of 4,969 shots attempted, which gives him a save % of .913.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Boston (-152)

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