Boston Bruins: Five must-watch games in November

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 17: Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Reilly (28) battle for the puck during the third period of the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens on December 17, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 17: Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Reilly (28) battle for the puck during the third period of the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens on December 17, 2018, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 05: Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Buffalo Sabres center Casey Mittelstadt (37) chase the puck during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres on January 5, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

November 21 vs Buffalo

The two titans of the Atlantic Division meet for the first time on November 21. But wait, didn’t the Bruins already play Tampa Bay and Toronto?

Surprisingly, the Sabres right now are Boston’s closest competitor in the division. Buffalo has nine wins in 13 games this year. This gives them 20 points, which is the same as the Bruins.

Buffalo owes its strong start to its forward group. Jack Eichel leads the team with 17 points, and Victor Olofsson stepped up with six goals already.

Buffalo also will come to town with Rasmus Dahlin, who at 19 is one of the best young defensemen in the NHL. He has 10 points and averages a little under 20 minutes in time on ice.

The Sabres, like the Bruins, also have a solid goalie pairing. Carton Hutton and Linus Ullmark each sport a sub-2.60 GAA average and have a SV% above .925.

The Bruins will need to be ready for the test against the Sabres. Buffalo will head to Boston ready to prove that its early-season success was no fluke.

This should be a competitive game that will show whether or not Buffalo is a contender or a pretender.