Does Sabres coach Lindy Ruff make a change in goal for tonight? Plus the Golden Knights look to tap into the home crowd energy
The big question as we head into a pivotal Game 4 of the second round series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres tonight is who starts in goal for the Sabres.
The Sabres have given up 11 goals over the last two games of the series, with Alex Lyon between the pipes.
However, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff was wavering in his support of Lyon after the 6-2 loss in Game 3 Sunday night.
Lyon was good early the other night, but things fast fell apart. Do the Sabres go back to a goalie rotation, like they did in the Boston Bruins series?
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is capable of stealing a game for the Sabres against this dynamic Habs team, tie the series, and take it back to Buffalo.
BEST BETS
Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. EST, Bell Centre, Montreal
Montreal leads series 2-1
Under 6.5 -140
In NHL betting, the Habs are favoured on the Moneyline to take a commanding lead in the series, at -135, the Sabres at +115. Against the spread Canadiens -1.5 (+165), Sabres +1.5 (-210). The Over/Under 6.5 (O +110, U -140).
The Canadiens took out the Sabres 6-2 on Sunday, but I don’t see that level of offensive production two games in a row, even if Ruff opts to put Lyon in there again.
That -140 is appealing when going under the total line.
Six of the last 10 games involving the Sabres haven’t covered the 6.5 total goals line. With the Canadiens it’s eight of the last 10 games.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has been outstanding these playoffs, stopped 26 of 28 shots in Game 3, and is 6-4, 2.13 GAA, and a .918 SV% in the playoffs overall.
The Canadiens have taken over the series, outscoring Buffalo 11-3 in the last two games, tapping into the Bell Centre energy level.
The Canadiens are likely to win tonight, so I am also leaning that Moneyline, but I like the goaltending Dobes has been providing, and whomever Ruff puts in there will help keep it tight, despite constant pressure from the Habs.
BEST BETS
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. EST, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Series tied 2-2
Golden Knights Moneyline -150
In NHL betting, the Golden Knights are favoured on the Moneyline at -150, the Ducks at +125. Against the spread Golden Knights -1.5 (+155), Ducks +1.5 (-200). The Over/Under 6.5 (O +110, U -130).
Huge statement game opportunity for Las Vegas.
But a big factor going into Game 5 at T-Mobile is the health of power forward Mark Stone. He exited Game 3 with an injury and didn’t play Game 4. The Golden Knights are under .500 when Stone doesn’t play. So, what happens in Game 4? They lost 4-3.
The Ducks play the Golden Knights tough defensively, which explains the -200 on the Ducks’ spread.
I am going to take the Vegas -150 value on home ice.
Three reasons: That crowd energy at T-Mobile will push the Golden Knights to play tighter, under the coaching of John Tortorella, who is a great defensive coach. Vegas at home after dropping a game is a tough out.
Two, Tortorella, as soon as he took over as head coach March 29, found his goalie in Carter Hart. And Hart hasn’t disappointed – .923 save percentage in this series.
Three, Mitch Marner, leading the NHL in playoff scoring (16 points), finding his playoff form after a decade of disappointment in Toronto. Marner has been Conn Smythe worthy, playing right wing with William Karlsson and Brett Howden.
I also like the Under in this one. Games 3 and 4 went Over, but those were anomalies, especially with the goaltending Hart has been providing.
Vegas home games have hit on the Under three times out of five so far during the playoffs.
