Bruins vs Sabres Prediction & Odds - 3/17/2025

The TD Garden is set for a showdown between two teams desperate to turn their seasons around, as the Boston Bruins look to snap their recent skid that's seen them allow 12 goals in their last two losses.

While David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha have been bright spots for the Bruins with their combined 122 points, they'll face a Sabres offense that's found its groove behind the dynamic duo of Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka, who've lit the lamp 53 times this season.

The matchup pits the struggling Bruins defense, anchored by an off-form Jeremy Swayman (.897 save percentage), against a Sabres team that's managed to score over three goals per game despite their position at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres preview

The struggling Bruins host the Sabres at TD Garden in what's shaping up to be a battle of underperforming teams looking to salvage their disappointing seasons.

Buffalo's offense has been their lone bright spot, with the dynamic duo of Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka combining for an impressive 53 goals and 57 assists, though their defensive woes have overshadowed any offensive success.

Boston's usually reliable David Pastrnak hasn't been enough to carry the team, as the Bruins' offense has hit a rough patch, managing just five goals in their last two outings while surrendering an alarming 12 goals during that span.

The Sabres' blue line pairing of Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram has shown flashes of brilliance, but they'll need to tighten up their defensive coverage against a Bruins team that's desperate to break out of their scoring slump.

Both teams' goaltending situations tell the story of their seasons - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's struggles with a .888 save percentage for Buffalo mirror Jeremy Swayman's disappointing .897 for Boston.

Keep an eye on Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker, who've been quietly productive for the Sabres despite their team's overall struggles.

This matchup at TD Garden feels less like the classic Bruins-Sabres battles of old and more like two teams trying to find their identity in a season that's gotten away from them.

With both squads leaking goals lately, don't be surprised if this turns into an old-fashioned shootout despite their offensive struggles.