Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Thursday, April 23, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 22, 2026, 7:20pm

In a pivotal game two, the Boston Bruins were able to even up the series before heading back home for game three. While their four goals looks impressive on paper, their actual performance on the ice indicates some scoring opportunities were left off the board, finishing the contest with 5.17 Expected Goals.

Defending the net has been an issue for the Sabres this season and now wear and tear has started to rear its ugly head over their back line. Even though the Bruins still grade out poorly in Expected Goals For, any sluggish movement will open up wider gaps in the Sabres coverage, improving the quality of their Shots on Goal.

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Betting Analysis

After letting game one slip out of their fingers in stunning fashion, the Boston Bruins were able to get their revenge in game two, beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-2. With their win, the Bruins have the opportunity to apply some serious pressure to the Sabres should they be able to capitalize on their home ice advantage in game three.

If the Bruins are going to have any chance of winning the series, then their front line must continue to generate Expected Goals at a high rate, a feat that has been an issue for them as they rank well below league average in Expected Goals For in All Situations. Their lack of depth makes it hard for them to pressure the net for the full duration of the contest, fielding just five players who average more than 0.25 Expected Goals per game.

Fortunately for the Bruins, the Sabres lack of coverage in front of their net will help them round back into competitive form by attacking a back line who sits near the bottom of the board in Expected Goals Against. With the Sabres defense incapable of giving them the production they need to be a well rounded unit, they are forced to play in highly volatile contests which lowers their chances of winning.

While Buffalo’s back line has underwhelmed, their front line has been able to thrive, ranking in the top-12 in Expected Goals For in 5-on-5 Play. Even in their loss in game two, the Sabres were still able to create high quality scoring opportunities at a consistent rate, finishing the contest with 4.15 Expected Goals.

With both back lines struggling to defend their next, expect the Sabres and Bruins scoring opportunities to start to find the back of the net at a higher rate, resulting in a thrilling high scoring affair. If the full game total climbs up to 6.5, then reduce the size of your wager.

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

Best Bet: Over 6 (-110)
Score Prediction: Sabres 4, Bruins 3

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Game Odds

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Game Information

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Network: TNT
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Venue: TD Garden – 7.1 goals per game; 19-21-1 O/U
Series Score: Tied 1-1

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Betting Resources

Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins Key Players

Buffalo Sabres

Tage Thompson – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 6 Shots on Goal)
Jason Zucker – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Shots on Goal)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Last Game: (4 Goals Against, 15 Saves)

Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 2 Shots on Goal)
Morgan Geekie – Last Game: (1 Goal, 0 Assists, 1 Shots on Goal)
Jeremy Swayman – Last Game: (2 Goals Against, 34 Saves)

Photo Credit: AP/Jeffrey T. Barnes

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.