🏒 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (April 19)

The visiting Boston Bruins return to the NHL playoffs after a one-season absence; the host Buffalo Sabres return after 14 years away. Puck drop from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN. 

My Bruins vs. Sabres prediction looks at whether there's value in the moneyline, where Buffalo is a -166 betting favorite, or if we should look elsewhere for the best value on the board. We'll also highlight our favorite player prop for Game 1 as the best-of-seven series gets started.

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🏒 Bruins vs. Sabres picks & odds today: Game 1

See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.

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🏆 Who will win Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1?

Buffalo's layoff might have been a staggering 14 years, but the product on the ice this season is the real deal. The Sabres feature one of the league's most efficient offenses, have a goaltending duo more than capable of getting the job done, and have excellent penalty-killing to stifle opponents' power-play chances.

The Bruins offense has been very one-dimensional, and their penalty killing (77.7%) is amongst the league's worst.

The moneyline value for the Sabres to win on home ice isn't great, but I think they can cover the puck line and win by margin.

Score prediction: Sabres 4, Bruins 2

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💰 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 prediction & best bet

Under 6 (-105)

Both teams are likely to be a little bit conservative in Game 1, as playoff hockey often tends to feature a higher willingness to sell out to keep the puck out.

Buffalo features one of the league's best penalty kill units, ranking fourth overall (81.9%) and first in Net PK% (86.6%). Per DailyFaceoff, the Bruins rank in the bottom half of the NHL in 5-on-5 scoring chances, high-danger chances, and expected goals per 60 minutes.

Boston's Swayman brings a real playoff pedigree. Last time the B's made the playoffs, he posted a .933 SV%. That's the kind of performance Boston will need to hang in the series, but it's also the type of performance that will help keep the scores in check. As always, empty net goals are a danger, but I'm happy to play this at a flat 6.

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🔥 Best Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 player prop bet

Jonathan Aspirot Over 1.5 blocked shots (+105)

Aspirot averages in the range of 1.3-1.6 blocked shots per game throughout different periods of the season, finishing up with 83 blocks in his 61 games. That's the regular season, and head coach Marco Sturm has already praised the rookies' shot blocking.

It's the playoffs; this is a whole different beast. Players sell out considerably more to limit chances, and against a Buffalo team that can put up some serious numbers, Aspirot will be tasked with doing just that.

Asking for a small boost over his average for plus-money is a great spot to be.

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🚀 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 same-game parlay

As we're going to mix it in with other legs, there is no reason to get carried away and try to shoot for the spread with the Sabres. Let's just be reasonable and take the moneyline. We're going to roll with the Under 6.5 instead of the flat 6, to hope the wiggle room results in full cash and not a voided leg. And Aspirot's blocks will add a nice boost. 

We'll play this at bet365, which offered the best lines on numerous parts of the line individually and it offers some of the best sportsbook promos.

💵 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 SGP picks

• Sabres moneyline (-165)
• Under 6.5 (-140)
• Aspirot Over 1.5 blocked shots (+105)

Best odds: +450 via bet365 (0.25u -> 1.13u)

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💵 My betting record for NHL picks

All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since March 3

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💡 How I'm betting Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1

Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.

This is a tricky game, like most playoff games. The best sports betting sites have been sharp with setting lines, there's a season's worth of data to help them figure out their way. Don't get carried away. 

A big reason to take it easy tonight here, holding with just the standard two units, is that the emotions are going to be incredibly high in Buffalo with the broken NHL playoffs drought. Who knows how that will impact the players on the ice, will they be able to tune out the noise? 

It's all why I'm leaning heaviest into a defensive player prop.

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📊 Live Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 odds

It's a trend that we've seen across most of these series-opening games. There's been incredibly little movement in the moneyline and spread, as the best sports betting apps are pretty comfortable with where they've opened the line. 

Some operators have flipped back and forth from the flat 6 juiced Over and the 6.5 juiced Under. I'd be happier with the Under 6 with the better price as a standalone, and the 6.5 if it's in a parlay to avoid the voided line. 

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📈 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 betting trends

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🚑 Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 injuries

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📺 How to watch Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1

• Date: Sunday, April 19
• Puck drop: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• TV: ESPN