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Penguins vs Sabres Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds, Picks & Predictions
With Rakell in Fold, Pittsburgh More Dangerous
No Gimme for Pittsburgh
Normally a matchup between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres would be a chance for Pittsburgh to pick up two easy points. However, these are two of the top 10 teams in the NHL in points percentage in the month of March.
Pittsburgh is second in the Eastern Conference with 21 road victories. Since Jan. 1, Pittsburgh is third in the NHL in points percentage in away games, with the 2.29 goals allowed per game the second-best mark.
Pittsburgh (+1600) has the eighth-best odds to win the Stanley Cup.
Let’s check the latest news, stats, injury reports, and NHL odds for Penguins vs Sabres. We’ve plenty of predictions for you to consider.
The penguins soaring up the standings
Don’t look now but the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of taking over first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Pittsburgh’s 5-1 win over visiting Columbus was the fifth in the last six games. The production came from the usual subjects. Sidney Crosby had three assists, Jake Guentzel scored twice and Evgeni Malkin struck on the power play. Radim Zohorna got into the act with his second goal of the season.
A key part of the surge has been the play of goalie Tristan Jarry, whose 17 wins since Jan. 1 is one off the NHL lead.
More help is on the way. Former Anaheim Ducks winger Rickard Rakell was picked up at the trading deadline and made his Pittsburgh debut on Tuesday. He didn’t record a point but is ready to contribute.
“It was great just to get right back into it and be around the guys and get the win in this game.”
On Rickard Rakell’s arrival and the Penguins’ established incumbents leading the way to one of the team’s more thoroughly convincing wins of the season:https://t.co/TodNzId30X
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) March 23, 2022
“I think growing up, those guys (Crosby and Malkin) are your idols and to be in the same room as those guys, I’m just going to try to take it all in and learn from them,”Rakell said.
The NHL betting lines total has gone under in five of Pittsburgh’s last six games.
Sabres Putting it Together
It seems like ages ago when the Buffalo Sabres kicked off the season by going 5-2-1 in October to post a rare month with a winning record.
Victories have been harder to come by since that promising start, but the Sabres seem to be trending in the right direction again.
Buffalo is 6-3 since the start of March and is tied for the eighth-best points percentage during that time.
It has been an all-hands-on-deck approach. Tage Thompson (three goals, three assists) leads the team with six points over the nine games this month. Eight other players have either four or five points.
Craig Anderson has picked up five of the wins despite a 3.04 goals-against average. Dustin Tokarski has posted impressive numbers in his two starts with a GAA of 0.49 while stopping 53 of 54 shots.
The Las Vegas odds total has gone over in five of Buffalo’s last six games against teams from the Metropolitan Division.
Penguins vs Sabres Head-to-Head
Pittsburgh has won nine of its last 11 meetings with Buffalo, including a 3-2 home win on Dec. 17 on an overtime goal by Jeff Carter. Buffalo won the last time the Penguins came to town on April 18, 2021.
Something to consider for those who bet online: Each of the last three meetings between the teams was decided by a goal with five of the last seven having fewer than six combined goals.
The Penguins have been favoured in each of the last 17 games played in Buffalo. The last time the Sabres were listed as a favourite came on Dec. 11, 2010.
Penguins vs Sabres Game Information
- Game: Penguins (39-16-9) at Sabres (22-33-8)
- Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
- Day/Time: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Live stream: NHL.TV
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Penguins vs Sabres Betting Lines
Penguins vs Sabres Prediction
Pittsburgh is 3-2-2 on the second game when playing on back-to-back nights. With a comfortable win over Columbus on Tuesday, the Penguins’ coaching staff was able to manage the minutes.
Buffalo won’t be making the playoffs but the Sabres are ahead of four teams in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo is a bit short-handed on the blue line as defensemen Colin Miller, Will Butcher and Casey Fitzgerald are all out indefinitely. Miller is second in scoring among Buffalo defensemen despite missing 29 games. The Sabres have used 10 defensemen this season due to injury issues.
Pick: Penguins -230
Pick: Sabres +1½ (-140)
