Welcome to NHL Predictions, where we’re taking a closer look at Boston’s first elimination game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston and Buffalo are heading into Game 5, where the Bruins will look to stay alive and force a Game 6. The Sabres, on the other hand, could have their first series win in 19 years. Let’s take an in-depth analysis between these two teams.
NHL Predictions With the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres
Series: Sabres 3 – 1 Bruins
Puck Drop: 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
How to Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max, MSG-B, NESN
The Sabres return to Western New York after beating the Bruins in Games 3 & 4 in Boston. Boston boasted one of the best home records in the regular season, but lost all momentum in the series on home ice. Game 3 was a nailbiter, with Alex Tuch picking up the game-winning goal in the third period. Game 4, was one that Boston fans will want to purge their memory from. They trailed 6-0 ahead of the 6-1 final score, including being down 4-0 in the first period. At the first intermission, the Bruins had as many shots as the Sabres had goals.
Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire
Boston is fighting an uphill battle now in this series. They cannot lose another game, and to win, they’ll have to beat Buffalo in Buffalo twice. Their backs are against the wall, but playing with nothing to lose could enable a more dangerous offence from the Bruins. The Sabres did not have a minus player in Game 4, and had six different goal scorers in their dominating win. They’ll look to bring that momentum back home with them and close out this series.
A Comedy of Errors for Boston
The Bruins got dominated in Game 4. It was for the most part not a competitive game. They shot themselves in the foot with bad defensive zone turnovers all first period. Fraser Minten had a bad turnover that sprung Tuch and Peyton Krebs on a two on one rush. Krebs would tally on it, and just a minute later they took a too many men on the ice bench minor. Josh Doan capitalized just after the powerplay expired. Doan would force a turnover on his next shift on Jordan Harris. That turnover led to Zach Benson scoring his first off the playoffs on the ensuing chance.
Jeremy Swayman was playing well through all of this. Although he gave up three goals in the first, it just wasn’t his fault. The Sabres were getting scoring chances at ease, Swayman just got no support from his team. The support was non existent, but loose shin pads were. On the fourth goal for the Sabres, Bowen Byram catches a blueline pass and rips a shot. Swayman didn’t have a chance to get left to right and save it because his leg pad caught on Jonathan Aspirot who was standing in the crease. The Bruins allowed 19 first period shots, and were getting in the way of Swayman making saves.
A bad turnover, a too many men penalty, another bad turnover, interfering with your own goaltender,all of which led to Sabres goals, not a great recipe for success.
A Style Change in Buffalo
The Sabres have adapted incredibly well as this series has gone on. They got pulled into the physicality of the playoffs in Games 1 & 2. It seems like they were desperate to prove to the world that they could play physical playoff style hockey. The overcommitted to that style of play, and lost their identity a bit. They laid 52 hits in Game 1, a season high. And although they won that game, they could not comeback the same way in Game 2.
Going into Boston, they got back to their speed and skill that made them the Atlantic Division Champions in the regular season. Noah Östlund got into the lineup for an injured Joshua Norris, and has been fantastic. Two points in the 3-1 Game 3 win. And although he was scoreless, he transformed the way the second line looked with Benson and Doan. The top line finally unlocked some of that speed that was missing early in the series. Tuch leads the team in points with six, with Krebs having five and Thompson with four.
The Sabres really kicked it up a notch in Boston over two games. They need to bring that style back to Buffalo, and not get sucked into the chippy style Boston plays with.
NHL Predictions
The Sabres have all the momentum on their side. We all know by now the Buffalo fans are going to make that environment tough on the Bruins. The faster, more talented team with more depth is going to win this series on home ice.
Prediction: Buffalo win 5-2 (Win Series 4-1).
Main Photo Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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