{"id":107630,"date":"2021-04-20T09:15:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T13:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=107630"},"modified":"2021-04-20T08:19:10","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T12:19:10","slug":"nhl-predictions-april-20-buffalo-sabres-vs-boston-bruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/04\/20\/nhl-predictions-april-20-buffalo-sabres-vs-boston-bruins\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Predictions: April 20 with Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back to <\/span>NHL Predictions<\/span><\/a>, April 20th edition! Each day, the Last Word On Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the first slate of NHL Predictions for April 20th, featuring the Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins. Be sure to check out the other slates of games today.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Predictions: Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins<\/b><\/h2>\n

Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head:<\/b> Sabres 0 – 3 Bruins<\/b><\/h4>\n

Although the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins haven\u2019t played often this season, the Bruins have been dominant in their few meetings. Entering tonight\u2019s contest, the Bruins sport a four-game winning streak and need to extend that to widen the gap between themselves and the rising Rangers. The Sabres, while still not particularly threatening, did pull off an upset win against the Penguins<\/a> on Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Buffalo, starting goaltender Linus Ullmark<\/a> remains out with a lower-body injury<\/a>, depleting their already-slim depth in net. Dustin Tokarski<\/a> – who began the season as the Sabres\u2019 fourth netminder – held his own against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals<\/a>. But the Bruins\u2019 high-powered offence presents a greater challenge. The \u201cPerfection Line\u201d is firing on all cylinders and new acquisition Taylor Hall<\/a> has improved Boston\u2019s scoring depth, recording two goals in his first three games with the Bruins.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sabres do have the potential for upset wins. Even in their last game against the Bruins, they stayed with Boston all through regulation. But at this point, the Bruins are looking strong and have massive momentum to boot. Tonight\u2019s game probably won\u2019t be a blowout, but Boston should notch a convincing win.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Bruins win, 4-2<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head:<\/b> Devils 2 – 3 Penguins
\n<\/b><\/h4>\n

Tonight\u2019s game is the first of three consecutive meetings between the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils are fresh off four straight losses to the Rangers and haven\u2019t won in six games. And while the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 luck has not been quite so bad, they <\/span>were<\/span><\/i> upset by the division-worst Sabres in the second of two close contests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the Devils\u2019 end, winger Yegor Sharangovich<\/a> has been particularly effective, recording a goal and two assists in the team\u2019s last two games. The Penguins have scored up and down the lineup, with many different players putting up points. Although neither team is playing at its best right now, the Penguins are generally a more reliable team than the Devils, who are still working on developing their young rebuild group. It\u2019ll be a close game, but expect a Pittsburgh win tonight.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Prediction: Penguins win, 3-2<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head:<\/b> Rangers 2 – 3 Islanders<\/b><\/h4>\n

Despite having won against the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> on Sunday, the New York Islanders have looked shaky as of late. They dropped from second to third in the East, behind the Penguins, just last week. In contrast, the New York Rangers come into this game hot after a four-game sweep of the Devils.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the Islanders aren\u2019t known for offence, lately their scoring struggles have seemed worse than usual. All of the Islanders\u2019 players combined have fewer points in their last three games than the Rangers\u2019 Mika Zibanejad<\/a> and Artemi Panarin<\/a> have in theirs. The Islanders eked out an overtime win in these teams\u2019 last meeting, but unless they can find a more immediate fix for their lack of offensive production, it\u2019ll be the Rangers coming away with the win this time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Rangers win, 3-1<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Carolina Hurricanes vs Tampa Bay Lightning<\/b><\/h3>\n

Head-to-Head:<\/b> Hurricanes 3 – 4 Lightning<\/b><\/h4>\n

This game is the last time the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning will face each other during the regular season. Now trailing Carolina by a single point, the Lightning have a chance to overtake the Hurricanes with a regulation win tonight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrei Vasilevskiy<\/a> was in net for Tampa Bay in the first game of the back-to-back, so it stands to reason that Curtis McIlhenny will take the start today. Unfortunately, McIlhenny has been a liability this season, with a .862 save percentage and 3.48 goals-against average. That\u2019ll be especially problematic against Hurricanes, who are dangerous up and down the lineup. In last night\u2019s game, first-line winger Andrei Svechnikov<\/a> scored – and so did second-pairing defenceman Brady Skjei<\/a>. Last night\u2019s game was close even with Vasilevsky backstopping the Lightning; the Hurricanes should be able to capitalize on Tampa’s lack of goaltending depth <\/span>to take this contest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Hurricanes win, 3-2<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>