Online Sportsbook Overview
Few teams in the NHLhave been better than the Buffalo Sabres over the past couple of months, except for maybe the Pittsburgh Penguins. While the NCAA basketball betting was going on, the Sabres climbed from 15th place immediately after the All-Star break all the way up to eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The team has been winning on the road and at home. Goaltender Ryan Miller has suddenly found his form and the team has lined up right behind him. The Sabres have run in to some injury problems again as defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Andrej Sekera were put on the injury list in the Sabres’ win over the Washington Capitals. But the Sabres have shown amazing depth in this run and have been able to plug in injured starters with minor league replacements without missing a beat.
The Pittsburgh Penguins were red hot before Sidney Crosby made his way back on to the roster. After over a year of repeated concussion issues, Crosbyis finally a stable member of the team and contributing. The price per head sports experts have been ready to give theNHL MVP award to Penguins’ star Evgeni Malkin all season long. Even withCrosby back in the lineup, Malkin has been a force that other teams seem unable to contend with. The only thing Malkin will need to be careful of is that it was a late season game againstBuffalo last year that put him out of the lineup for the playoffs. The Penguins are hoping that there is no repeat of that situation in this game.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres is 7-1-2in the last 10 games and currently riding a five-game winning streak. When Buffalohas needed to grab points in the standings, it has been able to do so. Many observers thought that a game a week ago against the Rangers would slow the Sabres down. But Buffaloplowed through Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers to add to its growing win total. A betonline.com review of the past few weeks shows goaltender Ryan Miller is playing some of the best hockey of his career. All the Sabres have to do to make the playoffs is win these last five games. It sounds easy, considering how the team has played, until you remember that the Penguins are playing for something in this game as well.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins is7-2-1in the last 10 games and trying desperately to catch the New York Rangers for first place in the Eastern Conference.Pittsburghmay not catchNew York, but this Penguins team has shown that it can play even under the worst conditions.Pittsburghmade the playoffs and performed well last year without Malkin and Crosby. This year, the Penguins have been a force in the Eastern Conference all season long andCrosbyhas just started to become a factor. With two defensive starters out for the Sabres,Pittsburghmay be able to walk throughBuffaloand grab this win.
The Bottom Line
The NHL fans inBuffalo are loving this recent run but most fans can’t help but feel like it would have been nice to see this from the Sabres earlier in the season. The Sabres are one of the best teams in the league and it could still miss the playoffs thanks to poor play in December and January. The Penguins are not giving an inch to anyone and this game is two points thatPittsburgh desperately wants.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins
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