Betting Online PreviewPeople in Western New York cannot really bet on college basketball like other major metropolitan areas because there isn’t any big time college basketball there. The sports betting bonus for Buffalo basketball fans is the ability to bet on teams all over the country with price per head betting services. NHL hockey is the thing to bet on in Buffalo, and the Sabres have been driving Buffalo sports fans crazy all season long. Goaltender Ryan Miller looks extremely human this season and far-removed from his Vezina season of a year ago. The Sabres got off to a very slow start, but are now battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Montreal Canadiens took a chance, again, on goalie Carey Price and this time it has paid off. The Canadiens trail the Boston Bruins by one point for the lead in the Northeastern Division, and are looking to continue their dominance over the Buffalo Sabres in this important divisional home game.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens are 3-1 against the Sabres this season and look to extend their season record against the Sabres at home. In their last 10 games, the Canadiens are 5-3-2, but at home this season the Canadiens are 19-7-5. Carey Price got a shut out in his last start, but he gave up 11 goals in the previous two start combined. Considering how well the Sabres have been scoring lately, Price will have to pick up his game to try and earn the win in this game.
The Canadiens offense has been stagnant all season long. Montreal has scored 151 goals this season, and that is by far the lowest total among all of the teams currently in playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. It is also 11 goals less than the Sabres have scored. The Canadiens are living by their defense, and that is not going to sustain a winning streak in the NHL.
Buffalo Sabres
As goaltender Ryan Miller continues to disappoint, forward Drew Stafford has continued to impress. Stafford has four hat tricks in his last 20 starts. His last two hat tricks came nearly back to back last week. Stafford has had the hot scoring hand and younger players such as Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis are starting to have a major impact on the Sabres season.
Ryan Miller allowed 7 goals, many of then weak, in a recent overtime loss to the New York Islanders. Miller could be getting tired as he has started 31 games in a row, or he could be falling back on the bad habits that plagued his 2008-2009 season. The defense playing in front of Miller is not playing well at all, and it could be discouragement at a terrible defense that is getting to last year’s Vezina Trophy winner.
The Bottom Line
The Sabres are incredibly difficult to predict lately. They are beating teams they should be losing to and losing big to teams they should be beating. The Sabres desperately need the two points. Both goalies are playing horribly lately, but the Sabres stand a better chance of rebounding to win this game based solely on their ability to score goals as of late.
BSNblog Pick: Buffalo Sabres
