Bruins vs Sabres 4/13/21: Hall debuts against former team

Tonight, the Boston Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres for just the third time this season. So far this season the B’s are 2-0-0 against the NHL’s worst team, beating them 4-1 in their first matchup and 3-2 in their second.

Both of these games happened while the Sabres were in the midst of an 18-game winless streak. Since then, the Sabres have been playing much better under interim head coach Don Granato and are 4-4-2 in their last 10. Additionally, they’re coming off an impressive come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. They shouldn’t be taken lightly.

The B’s are coming off an embarrassing 8-1 blowout loss to the Washington Capitals. However, this was kind of expected as the Black and Gold were without four of their normal six defensemen.

Boston will be looking to bounce back in a big way tonight after that embarrassing loss, so the Sabres better watch out as the B’s are mad and re-energized due to the acquisitions they made at the trade deadline.

Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres projected lineups.

Boston Bruins
Record: 21-12-6 (48 points)

The B’s will once again be without defensemen Matt Grzelcyk and Brandon Carlo. However, Charlie McAvoy and Kevan Miller will be back in the lineup for tonight. McAvoy has missed the last two games with an injury while Miller missed last game with a planned game off.

Additionally, trade deadline acquisition, defenseman Mike Reilly will be in the lineup tonight. He’ll be playing the left side of the second defensive pairing.

Along with Reilly, left wing Taylor Hall will also make his debut for the B’s tonight. He’ll be at left wing on the second line. However, forward Curtis Lazar, who the Black and Gold also got in the Hall trade, is a game-time decision with a lower-body injury. If he plays expect him to center the fourth line.

Jeremy Swayman will start tonight with Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak still out. Dan Vladar will back him up.

Expect the Bruins to look like this tonight:

Marchand – Bergeron – Pastrnak
Hall – Krejci – Smith
Ritchie – Coyle – DeBrusk
*Kuraly – Lazar – Wagner

*Kuraly will move to center and Blidh will slot in at left wing if Lazar can’t play.

Lauzon – McAvoy
Reilly – Kampfer
Zboril – Miller

Swayman (Vladar)

Buffalo Sabres
Record: 10-25-6 (26 points)

The Sabres are still without their captain and top player Jack Eichel. In his spot will be Sam Reinhart, who typically plays on Eichel’s wing when Eichel is healthy.

After being traded to the Sabres in the Hall trade, now former-Bruins Anders Bjork will make his debut for Buffalo on their third line.

Linus Ullmark will be in net for the Sabres. Dustin Tokarski will be backing him up as Carter Hutton is still out with an injury.

Expect the Sabres to look like this tonight:

Skinner – Reinhart – Olofsson
Asplund – Mittelstadt – Thompson
Bjork – Cozens – Ruotsalainen
Sheahan – Eakin – Okposo

Bryson – Ristolainen
Dahlin – Jokiharju
Irwin – Miller

Ullmark (Tokarski)

Where and when to watch Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres:

Time: 7 PM EST

Location: TD Garden

TV Broadcast: NESN, MSG-B

Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub

As I said earlier, the B’s should come out of the gate hard and fast as they look to bounce back after getting blown out last game. Unless Ullmark plays absolutely out of his mind tonight, the Black and Gold should win by at least two goals.