The Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8) and Buffalo Sabres (17-22-5) tangle Friday at the KeyBank Center. The opening faceoff will be at 7 p.m. (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Penguins vs. Sabresodds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Penguins lead 1-0 with 6-5 OT win at home on Oct. 16
The Penguins are opening what will mark their longest road stretch of the season. Starting with Friday’s tilt against the Sabres, Pittsburgh is slated to play 7 straight contests on road ice. And the Pens may be glad for the trip. They head into this game having lost 3 in a row at home (0-3-0) and 7 of their last 8 games (1-4-3).
Buffalo defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 Wednesday and is 3-1-0 over its last 4 games. A Sabres club that went 0-10-3, allowing 4.15 goals per game, from Nov. 27-Dec. 21, allowed just 5 goals over those 3 recent victories. Buffalo is also 3-1-0 over its last 4 at home.
Stream the NHL all season on ESPN+, with your team’s out-of-market games, exclusive games, originals and more. Get ESPN+ now!
Penguins at Sabres odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:57 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Penguins +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Sabres -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-225) | Sabres -1.5 (+185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Penguins at Sabres projected goalies
Alex Nedeljkovic (7-7-4, 3.40 GAA, .886 SV%) vs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (14-13-4, 2.99 GAA, .898 SV%)
Nedeljkovic — confirmed for this one — returns to action after being pulled 27 minutes into his last start. In that turn, he coughed up 5 goals while making 12 saves. He owns an .870 SV% across his last four starts.
Luukkonen stopped 35-of-37 in Wednesday’s triumph over Carolina, a game played in Buffalo. The 25-year-old had often struggled across recent games on home ice. For the season, he owns an .887 SV% at the KeyBank Center.
Play our free dailyPick’em Challenge and win!Play now!
Penguins at Sabres picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 5, Sabres 4
Moneyline
Pittsburgh won this season’s first meeting 6-5 in overtime (Oct. 16 in Pittsburgh) and is 4-2 across the last 6 series meetings.
The Penguins have certainly struggled of late, but they have some systemic expected-goal room for growth in their 5-on-5 game, and in recent games they have been stingier in yielding shots from the slot.
Nedeljkovic benefits from that better defensive effort. While he was pulled in his last, the effort before that was quite good (stopped 40-of-43 pucks vs. high-scoring Edmonton Oilers Jan. 9).
The Sabres look to be too far over their skis with relation to expected-goal analytics at both ends of the ice. Buffalo is at a rest disadvantage here, and the price on Pittsburgh is decent enough.
PICK THE PENGUINS (+110).
Puck line/Against the spread
Too much juice to wade through here. PASS.
Over/Under
The Over is 4-2 across Pittsburgh’s last 6 games on the road and 4-2 in Buffalo’s last 6 games at home.
Buffalo has scored 3.90 goals per game over its last 10 contests. Pittsburgh has struggled in producing 5-on-5 results of late but is 12-for-its-last-34 (35.3%) on the power play.
The 2 sides combined for 76 shots on goal and 11 goals in clocking an Over 6.5 back in October. with the return here and the goalies in play, the OVER 6 (-120) has solid enough value.
Want to play some games of your own? Play for free at the best social casinos and enjoy lots of slots, blackjack, video poker, roulette and more. You can even earn real prizes!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X andlike us on Facebook.
More NHL Picks and Predictions!
Vegas Golden Knights at Carolina Hurricanes odds, picks and predictions
Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche odds, picks and predictions
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers odds, picks and predictions
