Sportsbook odds favor the Buffalo Sabres as they open up against the Boston Bruins in NHL playoff action. The Sabres are the third seed in the Eastern Conference and they are -170 favorites at the offshore sportsbook for their series against sixth-seeded Boston.
Sportsbook numbers could be a little low on the Sabres considering they are getting healthy. Center Tim Connolly is coming back from an injury as is forward Jochen Hecht. Connolly has missed the last nine games due to a foot injury. Hecht missed three games with an upper body injury. Right wing Drew Stafford suffered a concussion on Saturday but he was on the ice in practice. Head coach Lindy Ruff said all three players could be ready for Thursday’s Game 1. The Sabres play on Thursday at home for Game 1 and then play Game 2 on Saturday. The series moves to Boston for Games 3, 4 and 5 next week.
The Sabres are the better team but Boston enters this series playing well. The problem for Boston in sportsbook odds is that they are still missing their best player, center Marc Savard. The Bruins will have to get great goaltending or the Sabres will win this series going away. The Sabres can match the Bruins in goal with Ryan Miller and they have more scorers. “Our goals certainly aren’t just to mosey into the playoffs. It’s to be a championship team,” said Miller, “Ultimately that’s the attitude that will see you through.”
Boston averaged just 2.39 goals per game which was the worst in the league. The Sabres averaged almost three goals per game. The Sabres have players like Derek Roy, Connolly, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek who can score and impact the results at the offshore sportsbook. It will be up to Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask or backup Tim Thomas to shut them down. The Bruins do have a defense led by reigning Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara. Defenseman Andrew Ference is expected to return for this series. The Bruins allowed only 2.33 goals per game which could mean a low scoring series in sportsbook odds.
The Sabres have the pressure to win this series. Ryan Miller needs to prove he can win in the playoffs. Thomas Vanek returned from injury this past week and looked great. If he scores in this series the Sabres will win vs. the sportsbook NHL odds.