Two squads currently on losing streaks, the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins collide at PPG Paints Arena in an Eastern Conference showdown. Sportsnet ONE will broadcast the game, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 14.
Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (+190) is entering this one as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-230), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under).
Losing -2.4 units for moneyline bettors, the Penguins are 9-10 straight up (SU) overall in the 2017-18 season. That early-season winning percentage is a noticeable slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Of its 19 games this season, 10 have gone over the total, while nine have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 5-1 SU at home so far this year.
Pittsburgh has been able to convert on 24.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.2 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Pittsburgh has been penalized 5.0 times per game overall this season, and 4.3 per game over its past ten contests. The team’s had to kill penalties for 12.6 minutes per contest over its last five home games.
Sporting a .906 save percentage and 26.2 saves per game, Matt Murray (9-6-1) has been the primary option in goal for the Penguins this season. If they decide to rest him, however, the team may turn to the winless Antti Niemi (0-3-3 record, .797 save percentage, 7.49 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin will both be focal points for the Penguins. Kessel (22 points) is up to seven goals and 15 assists and has recorded multiple points in four different games this year. Malkin has seven goals and 13 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 12 contests.
On the other side of the ice, Buffalo is 5-12 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of eight of its games have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and just two have pushed. Buffalo’s 3-7 SU as the visiting team this season.
Buffalo has converted on just 14.0 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places it in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 15th overall and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
Buffalo’s players have been penalized only 3.4 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 6.7 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Robin Lehner (2.90 goals against average and .905 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Buffalo. Lehner is averaging 22.9 saves per game and owns a 4-8-1 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Sabres will be Evander Kane (nine goals, seven assists) and Jack Eichel (four goals, 10 assists).
Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends:
- The total has gone under in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- Over Buffalo’s last ten games, five of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-4 in those games).
- Buffalo skaters have accounted for the eighth-most hits in the league (22.4 per game).
