The Buffalo Sabres (17-22-5) are set to host the Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8) at KeyBank Center in what promises to be a compelling matchup between two teams desperate to turn their seasons around.
Both teams enter the contest facing significant challenges, with the Penguins riding a three-game losing streak while allowing 14 goals in their last three outings, and the Sabres currently holding the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
The Sabres' offense has shown recent signs of life, posting 14 goals in their last four games behind the strong play of Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jason Zucker, who have combined for 48 goals and 52 assists this season.
Pittsburgh's offensive struggles continue despite Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell's combined 34 goals and 52 assists, as the team averages just 2.96 goals per game while their defense allows a concerning 3.67 goals against.
The matchup presents an intriguing battle between Buffalo's improving offense and Pittsburgh's struggling defense, with both teams looking to prove they can compete at a higher level.
As these longtime rivals prepare to face off, the question remains whether the Sabres can capitalize on their home-ice advantage or if the veteran-laden Penguins can snap out of their recent downturn.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: who will win?
For tonight's Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, our predictive model gives the Penguins a 50.33% chance of defeating the Sabres.
Pre-game probabilities
Pittsburgh Penguins
Moneyline
Win %
50.33%
49.67%
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins: 50.33% win probability
- Higher offensive output (137 goals scored vs Sabres' 136)
- More games played (46 GP vs 44 GP, showing better endurance)
- Better points accumulation (44 points vs 39 points)
Buffalo Sabres: 49.67% win probability
- Poor defensive record (148 goals against, ranking bottom third in conference)
- Lower win percentage (17 wins in 44 games, 0.386 win rate)
- Struggling in division (8th place in Atlantic Division)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Buffalo Sabres | Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline |
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins form
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins head to head
Buffalo Sabres
67%
Pittsburgh Penguins
33%
Oct 16, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
6 : 5
Buffalo Sabres
Sep 24, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 : 3
Buffalo Sabres
Sep 21, 2024
Buffalo Sabres
7 : 3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 7, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
1 : 3
Buffalo Sabres
Nov 24, 2023
Buffalo Sabres
3 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 12, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
4 : 0
Buffalo Sabres
