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Charlie McAvoy has been a road warrior in recent months, tallying 21 points over his last 20 away games.
While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 1, my Bruins vs. Sabres predictions see McAvoy getting back on track in this one.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 21.
Charlie McAvoy played 40.5% of Game 1, leading all skaters. The Boston Bruins didn’t generate many chances during his minutes, but score effects played a big part.
The Bruins led from the 10-minute mark of the opening period until there was less than five minutes to go in the third. Boston was trying to see their lead through, which led to a larger focus on defense.
Even if the Bruins get another lead, I don’t think they’ll be as conservative in Game 2.
McAvoy has hit the scoresheet in 20 of his last 23 games following a day of rest. Look for him to make his mark offensively.
Morgan Geekie averaged 2.2 shots on goal and cleared this line in 65% of his games this season. The only extended lull came when Geekie was playing away from David Pastrnak.
Geekie is back on the top line and scored in Game 1, so his role on Pastrnak’s opposite wing should be solidified.
Josh Doan had two shots on goal and five attempts in Game 1, pushing his Over rate to 85% in home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams.
Doan earned a solid 16 minutes of ice in his first playoff game, so head coach Lindy Ruff clearly trusts him.
Doan was a threat in the series opener, generating five shot attempts and a couple of scoring chances on the doorstep. His expected goal output of 0.91 was actually second-highest among all skaters. Jeremy Swayman is very tough to beat from range, so it's best to target players who live in high-danger areas.
Puck line: Boston +1.5 (-190) | Buffalo -1.5 (+160)
Charlie McAvoy has six points over his last six games in Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.
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