The Sabres host the Bruins in what will be a raucous atmosphere, and the Habs are in tough against the Lightning in Tampa.
For hockey fans in Buffalo, it’s been a marathon – 14 seasons since they’ve seen a playoff game.
That ends today, when the Sabres, 50-23-9 for a mammoth 109 points, second in the Eastern Conference, host the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.
Tage Thompson led all Buffalo skaters in points against the Bruins this season and has nine goals in his last 16 games against the Bruins. The burly, 6-foot-6, 220-pound center led the team this season with 40 goals, 41 assists. So, he’ll lead the charge in Buffalo tonight, along with team leaders like Alex Tuch (33G) and Rasmus Dahlin (19G, +18).
We’re not sure we will see a series scene-setter like we saw in Carolina last night – captains Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal dropping the gloves right off the opening draw, Staal landing a right to Tkachuk’s jaw – but we might.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm was trying to set stage the other day with comments about how his team was bigger and stronger than Buffalo and will come out of the chute playing physical.
Sabres players and coaches didn’t take the bait. The Sabres have five defencemen over 6-foot-3. Left winger Beck Malenstyn is 6-foot-3 and was fifth in the NHL in hits. Left winger Jordan Greenway is 6-foot-6, 231 pounds. The Sabres are a fast team, but physicality is not going to be a problem.
But we’ll see. The KeyBank Center is going to be rabid, a whole other level of electric. Cars all over Buffalo have Sabres flags attached to them these days. There are pro-Sabres signs everywhere. It’s great to see.
“The difference right now is the city is incredibly jacked up,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said yesterday. Ruff told reporters he’d rather have his players too amped up rather than not amped up at all. That’s not going to be a problem tonight in Buffalo.
Strap on your seatbelt.
BEST BETS
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. EST, KeyBank Arena, Buffalo, NY
Bruins Moneyline +135
At Betway this morning, the Sabres are -165 (bet $165 to win $100) favourites on the Moneyline, the Bruins +135 (bet $100 to win $135). Against the Spread: Sabres -1.5 (+145), Bruins +1.5 (-190). Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (Over is -150, Under is +115).
That’s good Moneyline value on a Bruins’ team that’s playoff tested. The Sabres are going to come out jacked, but we’re going to take the experience. Bruins’ goalie Jeremy Swayman (31-18-4, 2.71 GAA, .908 SV%, 2SO) is 9-10 in the playoffs, with a 2.38 GAA and .922 SV%.
I’m also leaning the Under – Game 1 of the series, a tight, physical game, with two good goalies.
Prop: David Pastrnak to score for the Bruins (+175), 17 points in his last 11 games against Buffalo.
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, 5:45 p.m. EST, Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Under 5.5
At Betway, the Lightning are -190 favourites on the Moneyline, the Canadiens +160. Against the Spread: Lightning -1.5 (+125), Canadiens +1.5 (-160). Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (Over is -150, Under is +115).
No disrespect to the Habs, an NHL powerhouse to come, led by a 51-goal scorer in Cole Caufield and an Olympian in Nick Suzuki (29G, 72A, 101 PTS). But the Lightning, despite some late-season wobbles, are playoff battle hardened. They’ll win the series.
Tonight? I am never going against Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (39-15-4, 2.31 GAA, .912 SV%, 2SOs) in the playoffs, with multiple Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe under his belt. The Russian is in the conversation for Vezina Trophy this year. The Habs will counter with Jakub Dobes (29-10-4, 2.78 GAA, .901 SV%)
I am going to take the Under.
Prop: Nikita Kucherov 2 Or More Goals (+600)
Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights 10 p.m. EST, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Golden Knights Moneyline -150
At Betway, the Golden Knights are -150 favourites on the Moneyline, the Mammoth +125. Against the Spread: Golden Knights -1.5 (+155), Mammoth +1.5 (-200). Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (Over is -140, Under is +110).
The Golden Knights are rolling under coach John Tortorella, 7-0-1 since he took over after the team fired Bruce Cassidy March 29. Vegas is 1-2-0 head-to-head against Utah this season.
Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka is getting his first look at playoff hockey and won twice in three starts against Vegas this season, with a stellar .947 SV%.
But the Golden Knights have been a different team since Torts took over.
Prop: Mitch Marner over 0.5 assists (-140)
