The Buffalo Sabres are riding high on momentum after back-to-back wins, with Tage Thompson's offensive prowess and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's steady presence in net giving their fans something to cheer about despite a challenging season.
Pittsburgh limps into KeyBank Center following a brutal 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay, though Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust have shown flashes of the Penguins' trademark offensive firepower even in defeat.
The KeyBank Center crowd will be watching closely as the Buffalo Sabres, averaging 3.34 goals per game at home, look to extend their winning streak against a Pittsburgh Penguins squad that's struggled on the road with just 2.61 goals per game as visitors.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins matchup, our predictive model gives the Sabres a 54% chance of defeating the Pens.
Pre-game probabilities
Buffalo Sabres
Moneyline
Win %
54%
46%
Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres: 54% win probability
- Superior offensive output (220 goals scored vs Penguins' 214)
- Better recent form (WWLLW vs Penguins' LLWLW)
- Fewer games played (70 vs 73, indicating less fatigue)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 46% win probability
- Poor defensive record (267 goals against, worst in Eastern Conference)
- Current losing streak (LLWLW recent form)
- Road game disadvantage (29-33-11 overall record shows road struggles)
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 |
Best NHL sportsbook promos
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins preview
The struggling Penguins head to Buffalo's KeyBank Center looking to shake off a brutal 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay that highlighted their recent defensive woes.
While Pittsburgh boasts offensive weapons like Bryan Rust (26 goals) and Sidney Crosby, their road performance has been lackluster, averaging just 2.61 goals away from home this season.
The Sabres, despite likely missing the playoffs for a 14th straight year, have shown signs of life with back-to-back wins, including a gutsy 3-2 comeback victory over Ottawa powered by Tage Thompson's 35th goal of the season.
Both teams' defensive struggles have been evident - Pittsburgh ranks 31st in goals against (3.58 per game), while Buffalo sits at 29th (3.50) - suggesting we could see plenty of scoring in this one.
The goaltending matchup pits Pittsburgh's Tristan Jarry, looking to bounce back after getting pulled against Tampa, against Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who's been a bright spot for the Sabres this year.
While the Penguins have dominated recent matchups with a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 meetings, Buffalo's improved home scoring (3.34 goals per game) and Pittsburgh's road struggles make this an intriguing clash.
Keep an eye on Buffalo's young guns Jack Quinn and Zach Benson, who've been creating havoc for opponents lately, while Pittsburgh will lean heavily on their veteran core to right the ship.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins form
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins head to head
Buffalo Sabres
67%
Pittsburgh Penguins
33%
Jan 18, 2025
Buffalo Sabres
2 : 5
Pittsburgh Penguins
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
