The set-up: The 5-4-2 Buffalo Sabres visit Boston to take on the 6-5-0 Bruins. The Sabres are an impressive 4-1-2 on the road to start the season, while the Bruins are 1-3-0 on home ice, as the team's home woes are plaguing them again this year. The Bruins missed the playoffs for a second straight year last season because of poor home play (17-18-6) and need to get things turned around quickly.

Buffalo: The Sabres were the NHL's worst home team a year ago at 9-29-3, so this year's strong start on away ice is more than just a little surprising. Buffalo extended its road winning streak to three games when it rallied for two goals in the third period at Ottawa to post a 2-1 triumph this past Saturday. Kyle Okposo, who began the Sabres' comeback versus the Senators 67 seconds into the final session, leads the team with five goals, four of which have come in his last five contests

Boston: The Bruins won the last three of a four-game road trip but now must gather themselves and get things straightened out on their home ice. Getting its power play straightened would be a start. The Bruins have gone just 3-for-38 (7.9 percent) to rank 29th in the league with a man advantage.

The pick: Buffalo will have Robin Lehner between the pipes and he's 4-3-1 with a 2.14 goals against average and .929 save percentage this season. However, while he owns a 2.64 goals against average and .925 save percentage lifetime against Boston, his record against the Bruins is just 3-6-3. Tuukka Rask suffered his first loss in the Boston net in seven games this season (6-1-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .932 save percentage), when he didn't play well in a 5-2 Saturday home loss to the Rangers. He may have tweaked the lower body injury that caused him to miss four games and with a Tuesday date in Montreal waiting, it wouldn't be a shock to see rookie Zane McIntyre in goal for his second NHL start Monday. Rask is listed as the expected goalie but either way, I'll make Boston an 8* play.