(6) BOSTON BRUINS vs (3) BUFFALO SABRES<\/strong><\/p>\nBecause these two teams are so similar, the best way to separate the two is review each similarity until we find a difference.<\/p>\n
We know both the Bruins and Sabres are backstopped by outstanding goaltending. Buffalo\u2019s Ryan Miller gets the headlines. After all, he\u2019s perhaps the top game-stealing goalie in hockey today and the frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy. He\u2019s in his prime and he showed at the Olympics that he can be a special goalie in clutch situations. But we can\u2019t be absolutely certain that the Sabres even have an edge in goaltending. Review the NHL stats leaders and, right beside Miller\u2019s name, you find Boston\u2019s Tuukka Rask right beside him in many of the categories. He\u2019s been a star and, if he falters in his playoff debut, let\u2019s remember that his \u201cbackup,\u201d Tim Thomas, is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Goaltending shouldn\u2019t be a problem for the Bruins.<\/p>\n
The defense is anchored by a giant man who eats minutes, scores on the power play and battles opponents\u2019 star players every night. Oops \u2013 I forget to mention which team. That\u2019s because Zdeno Chara and Tyler Myers fill the same role for the Bruins and Sabres, respectively. Again, it\u2019s hard to find a difference between each team\u2019s blueline. Chara has the maturity and experience edge over Myers and he has a solid if unspectacular supporting cast behind him with guys like Dennis Wideman and Dennis Seidenberg. But Myers has an equally sound, stay-at-home group backing him with Toni Lydman, Craig Rivet and Steve Montador.<\/p>\n
So where on Earth can we find the crucial difference between these two combatants? The forwards. ![\"Sports](\"http:\/\/affiliates.commissionaccount.com\/processing\/impressions.asp?btag=a_3953b_677\")
<\/p>\n
The Bruins have the size edge, as guys like Milan Lucic and Michael Ryder can be beasts on the forecheck, but the Sabres proved all season long that they could handle the rough, tough forwards in the Eastern Conference. As gritty and defensively sound as Boston\u2019s forwards may be…they can\u2019t score. The Bruins went from leading the Eastern Conference in goals a year ago to finishing dead last in the NHL in scoring this season. They miss Marc Savard (concussion) dearly and, even though they gained a high pick from Toronto in this year\u2019s draft, losing Phil Kessel\u2019s 36 goals hurt badly. They made a trade for the future even though they were contending in the present; that was a head scratcher to me.<\/p>\n
Buffalo isn\u2019t an absolute powerhouse offensively but it has some talented offensive forwards in Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Drew Stafford and (if healthy enough to play) Tim Connolly. These guys aren\u2019t consistent but they do have one consistent advantage over Boston: speed. They should beat the Bruins\u2019 defense to pucks enough to score a handful of goals \u2013 and that\u2019s all they\u2019ll need against a low-scoring team like Boston.<\/p>\n
I expect every game of this series to be a tightly fought war \u2013 every game may finish 2-1 \u2013 but I still see the Sabres outclassing the Bruins more often than not. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see Buffalo, one of the NHL\u2019s best true \u201cteams,\u201d win three games in overtime but still avoid a lengthy series. The Sabres\u2019 defense and goaltending are just that good and the Bruins\u2019 offense is just that bad.<\/p>\n
Prediction: <\/strong>Sabres in five.<\/p>\nCLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SPORTSBOOK.COM\u2019S NHL HOCKEY BETTING LINES FOR THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS!!!!<\/h3>\n
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