Saturday's best NHL bets
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins (-135, 5)
Something is brewing in Boston.
The team learned Friday it would be without left wing Milan Lucic for up to four weeks with an ankle injury. Lucic missed much of the first quarter of the season with a broken finger. The team rallied for a 2-1 win over New Jersey without him Friday, but his replacement, Vladimir Sobotka, was minus-1 in limited action.
The Bruins were 5-5-4 without him in the lineup, but were 4-0 in his four games back before his latest injury. In those four games, Lucic scored both of his goals this season.
Lucic?s injury also is a huge blow to the team?s offense, as the Bruins have scored a pathetic 60 goals so far this season. Good luck against Ottawa?s defense, which has allowed only 66 goals this year.
Pick: Ottawa +125
Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres (-220, 5.5)
How are the Hurricanes going to score on the stingy Buffalo Sabres and stud goalie Ryan Miller? Good question.
Carolina has scored a pathetic 55 goals this season and has netted only two goals total in the past two games. The team?s power play also is a operating at a woeful 14 percent, one of the worst marks in the league.
Meantime, the Sabres have allowed just 54 goals this year, the second-lowest total in the NHL. However, the team has struggled to score goals, netting only 58 through 22 games.
Expect to see lots of back-checking, players diving in front of shots and plenty of bored goal judges.
Pick: Under 5.5
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins (-135, 5)
Something is brewing in Boston.
The team learned Friday it would be without left wing Milan Lucic for up to four weeks with an ankle injury. Lucic missed much of the first quarter of the season with a broken finger. The team rallied for a 2-1 win over New Jersey without him Friday, but his replacement, Vladimir Sobotka, was minus-1 in limited action.
The Bruins were 5-5-4 without him in the lineup, but were 4-0 in his four games back before his latest injury. In those four games, Lucic scored both of his goals this season.
Lucic?s injury also is a huge blow to the team?s offense, as the Bruins have scored a pathetic 60 goals so far this season. Good luck against Ottawa?s defense, which has allowed only 66 goals this year.
Pick: Ottawa +125
Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres (-220, 5.5)
How are the Hurricanes going to score on the stingy Buffalo Sabres and stud goalie Ryan Miller? Good question.
Carolina has scored a pathetic 55 goals this season and has netted only two goals total in the past two games. The team?s power play also is a operating at a woeful 14 percent, one of the worst marks in the league.
Meantime, the Sabres have allowed just 54 goals this year, the second-lowest total in the NHL. However, the team has struggled to score goals, netting only 58 through 22 games.
Expect to see lots of back-checking, players diving in front of shots and plenty of bored goal judges.
Pick: Under 5.5