Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, and the Buffalo Sabres are set to do battle against Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in an Eastern Conference tilt. The opening faceoff will be at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 22, and it is being shown live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Earning 11.3 units for moneyline bettors, Pittsburgh is 37-22 straight up (SU) overall in the 2019-20 season. That winning percentage, the league’s second-best so far this season, is an improvement compared to what the team managed during the 2018-19 season (44-38). Among the team’s 59 games this season, 27 have gone under the total, while 27 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 22-9 SU at home this year.
The Penguins have connected on 21.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
Sporting a .903 save percentage and 25.6 saves per game, Matt Murray (18 wins, 14 losses, and five OT losses) has been the best goalkeeper for the Pens this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to give him the day off, however, Pittsburgh might turn to Tristan Jarry (20-9-9 record, .931 save percentage, 2.13 goals against average).
Over on the visiting bench, Buffalo is 27-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. A total of 29 of its games have gone over the total, while another 29 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. The Sabres are 9-19 SU as an away team this season.
The Sabres have converted on 19.7 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 31st overall and it’s successfully killed off 74.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Linus Ullmark (.914 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average) has been the main option in goal for Buffalo. Ullmark is averaging 28.5 saves per game and owns a 16-17-3 record.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- The Sabres are 1-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Penguins are 3-0 in shootouts.
- Buffalo’s attempted 29.3 shots per game overall this season (ranked 30th in the NHL), and 27.7 in its last 10 outings.
- Four of Buffalo’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- The Penguins this season have handed out the third-most hits per game in the NHL (28.1).
