Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Game 5 Preview, Picks & Odds for Tuesday, April 28, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Jul 23, 2026, 12:20pm

After struggling to find their footing, the Buffalo Sabres front line have come alive, blitzing the Boston Bruins from the opening puck to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Their offense had no issue with pressuring their net, generating 4.22 Expected Goals in their 6-1 win.

With the Bruins back line incapable of staying in front of the puck, the Sabres will be able to continue to attack the net for the full duration of the contest. With their own defense struggling to give them the production they need to be a well rounded unit, the Bruins will be able to match their output, resulting in a thrilling high scoring affair.

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Analysis

Since the start of the regular season, the Buffalo Sabres front line have been one of the more efficient units in the league, entering the playoffs ranked above league average in Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Tage Thompson has played a major role in their success this year, averaging 0.42 Expected Goals and 3.36 Shots on Goal per game.

With the Boston Bruins severely struggling in coverage per their near dead last marks in Expected Goals Against in All Situations, the Sabres are able to consistently break away from their assignments, widening the width of their shooting lanes in front of the net. When exposed, Jeremy Swayman has struggled to hold his own, averaging 3.50 Goals Against per game.

Unfortunately for the Sabres, the lack of production they receive from their back line makes it hard for them to pull away on the scoreboard, fielding a group who ranks in the bottom half of the board in Expected Goals Against. This forces them to play in highly volatile contests, plummeting their chances of winning.

Especially once wear and tear starts to rear its ugly head over Alex Lyon, their current goal tender who has been able to thrive since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, averaging just 0.90 Goals Against per game and a .964 Save Percentage. Once Lyon’s legs start to give out, the speed of his cuts across the crease will slow down, opening up wider gaps for the Bruins front line to exploit.

With both front lines in a position to thrive, expect game five between the Sabres and Bruins to feature plenty of scoring opportunities, resulting in a high volume of goals. If the total climbs up to a flat six across all sportsbooks, then reduce the size of your wager.

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Over 5.5 (-120)
Score Prediction: Sabres 4, Bruins 2

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Game Odds

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Game Information

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Network: TNT
Location: Buffalo, New York
Venue: KeyBank Center – 6.5 goals per game; 21-20-2 O/U
Series Score: Sabres 3-1

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Resources

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres Key Players

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Shot on Goal)
Viktor Arvidsson – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Shots on Goal)
Jeremy Swayman – Last Game: (6 Goals Against, 23 Saves)

Buffalo Sabres

Tage Thompson – Last Game: (0 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 Shots on Goal)
Jason Zucker – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Shot on Goal)
Alex Lyon – Last Game: (1 Goal Against, 23 Saves)

Photo Credit: AP/Michael Dwyer

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.