NHL Preview: Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8) and Buffalo Sabres (17-22-5) will meet for the second time this season on Friday, January 17 at 7:00 PM ET at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres are favored to win with a moneyline at -130 (Bookmaker).

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Penguins have lost their last three games and need to break the losing cycle. Their latest loss was suffered at home against the Seattle Kraken at 4-2, also marking their third consecutive game of allowing four goals or more.

They had the lead heading into the third period of 2-1, but then gave up three unanswered goals in the third period. Philip Tomasino and Bryan Rust landed the goals for the Penguins. Rickard Rakell still leads with 22 total goals while Sidney Crosby leads with 48 points and 36 assists.

The offense made a good effort despite losing, especially since they put up 33 shots and just four penalty minutes. On defense, they allowed those four goals on 18 shots and the Kraken were also more physical with 28 hits compared to the Penguins’ 20.

The Penguins are getting 2.96 goals a game and take 28.6 shots per game. Their defense has been less than subpar lately as they have now allowed 3.67 goals and 30.9 shot attempts from opponents per game. This spread is slightly worse than what the Sabres offer.

Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview

The Sabres are 3-2 over their past five battles, but are coming off a win to have some positive momentum. Their latest success was a 4-2 outing over the Carolina Hurricanes.

They were up 3-0 entering the third period and were able to safely coast to victory. Ryan McLeod stood out with his first career hat trick of three goals, while Dylan Cozens landed the other goal.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was crucial for their defense with 35 saves with a percentage at .946. The Hurricanes took 37 shots, while the Sabres took 24, but were able to find better scoring opportunities throughout the game.

The Sabres are averaging 3.02 goals and are firing off 27.0 shots to get there. Their defense has been almost as bad as the Penguins’ at allowing 3.37 goals and 29.3 shots per game from opposing teams.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

Bookmaker offers the most appealing Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres betting odds, which slightly favor the Sabres. The last time these two met was back in October, where the Penguins won at home in an overtime thriller that ended 6-5.

The Penguins are 6-10-5 on the road while the Sabres are 9-11-3. The Sabres are slightly more appealing on paper in comparison to the Penguins with both offense and defense. Look for the Sabres to get the win to extend their win streak.

Final Pick: Buffalo Sabres -130