The Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins meet Wednesday in NHL action at the PPG Paints Arena. Here’s a Penguins vs Sabres Prediction. This article will include a Penguins vs Sabres Pick.
Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
The Buffalo Sabres beat the Blackhawks and Hurricanes, and they play the Devils next. The Sabres have won 4 of their last 5 games.
The Buffalo Sabres are averaging 3.18 goals per game and are scoring 17.9 percent of their power play opportunities. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo with 12 goals, Rasmus Dahlin has 15 assists, and Josh Doan has 57 shots on goal. Defensively, the Buffalo Sabres are allowing 3.41 goals per game and are killing 87.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Alex Lyon has given up 34 goals on 365 shots faced, and Colten Ellis has allowed 17 goals on 163 shots.
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Wild and Kraken, and they play the Blue Jackets next. The Penguins have lost 5 of their last 6 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.05 goals per game and are scoring 32 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 13 goals, Evgeni Malkin has 18 assists, and Bryan Rust has 45 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 2.62 goals per game and are killing 85.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Arturs Silovs has allowed 29 goals on 313 shots faced, while Tristan Jarry has given up 18 goals on 202 shots.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Sabres have lost 10 of their last 11 road games.
- The Penguins have won each of their last five home games against the Sabres after coming off overtime.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last six games after coming off overtime.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five night games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Penguins have won the first period in each of their last six games against the Sabres after coming off overtime.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The underdogs have won six of the Penguins’ last seven games at PPG Paints Arena.
- The Penguins have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
- The underdogs have covered the puck line in each of the Penguins’ last seven games at PPG Paints Arena.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight Wednesday games as favorites.
- The Sabres have won the second period in each of their last four games.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Sabres’ last seven games as road underdogs against opponents on a losing streak have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Penguins’ last six games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- Eight of the last nine Wednesday night games have gone OVER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the last 10 games between the Sabres and Penguins.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Sabres’ last seven road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Erik Karlsson has recorded at least one assist in 10 of his last 11 home appearances against the Sabres.
- Erik Karlsson has recorded at least one point in each of his last 11 home appearances against the Sabres.
- Rickard Rakell has scored a goal in four of his last five appearances with the Penguins as favorites against the Sabres.
- Blake Lizotte has recorded a career faceoff win percentage of 63.3% against the Sabres (min. 5 faceoffs) – most against any opponent (including playoffs).
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Ryan McLeod has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres’ last seven road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Tage Thompson has scored a goal in each of the Sabres’ last six games.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in eight of his last nine appearances in road games.
- Tage Thompson is the only player in the league to have recorded 5+ shots in five or more consecutive appearances this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 1st in the league in power play percentage this season (32.00%).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 4th in the league for goals against per game this season (2.62).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 1st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (87.69%).
- The Buffalo Sabres rank 26th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.41).
Penguins vs Sabres Prediction
The Sabres are playing great hockey over the last two weeks, winning 4 of their last 5 games and finding the back of the net at an impressive rate. The problem is, the Sabres are one of those teams that lets me down once I start showing interest. The Sabres also have just one road win this season. The Penguins are in a bit of a free fall, but they’re at home where they’re usually a tough out, and it is the home team that’s won 7 of the last 10 meetings between these clubs. The price isn’t good enough for me to side with the Sabres. I’ll give the edge to the Penguins at home with this price.