Red-Hot Sabres Look to Dominate Struggling Penguins

Penguins vs Sabres Game Preview 1/17

As the Pittsburgh Penguins navigate a challenging post-Christmas slump, they’ll face a resurgent Buffalo Sabres team on Friday night. Both teams have had their struggles this season, but the Penguins still find themselves in a slightly better position in the standings compared to the Sabres, who occupy the Eastern Conference’s cellar. Buffalo, however, has been playing well of late, winning three of their last four games.

Penguins Searching for Answers on the Road

The Penguins entered the holiday break riding high on a 9-3-1 stretch. However, their fortunes have taken a turn for the worse, going 2-5-3 since then. Pittsburgh’s current three-game losing streak has seen them outscored 14-4, including a disheartening 4-2 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. In that game, the Penguins surrendered two goals in a 50-second span late in the third period, letting a 2-1 lead slip away.

Pittsburgh is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race in the East. Adding to their woes, they’re winless in their last five road games (0-3-2).

The team made a significant move earlier this week, waiving veteran goaltender Tristan Jarry after his inconsistent performances (8-8-4 record, .884 save percentage, 3.31 goals-against average). This decision leaves Alex Nedeljkovic (7-7-4, 3.40 GAA, .886 save percentage) as Pittsburgh’s primary netminder, with rookie Joel Blomqvist (3-5-0, 3.60 GAA, .904 save percentage) as his backup.

Recent History Between the Teams

The last meeting between these teams on October 16 ended in a wild 6-5 overtime victory for the Penguins. In that game, Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner in OT, finishing with three points, while Evgeni Malkin added his 500th career goal along with three assists. For the Sabres, JJ Peterka scored twice, and Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jason Zucker combined for five points in the close loss.

Despite their struggles, the Penguins have a proven track record against Buffalo. Crosby has 85 points (29 goals, 56 assists) in 60 career games against the Sabres, while Malkin has tallied 73 points (22 goals, 51 assists) in 54 games.

Sabres Finding Their Stride

While the Sabres remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, they’ve been trending upward. Buffalo has scored four goals in each of their last three victories, including a 4-2 win over Carolina on Wednesday. Ryan McLeod was the star of that game, registering his first career hat trick, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves to secure his third win in his last four starts.

Luukkonen has been a bright spot for the Sabres and stopped 37 shots against Pittsburgh earlier this season. Meanwhile, McLeod has been red-hot, recording four goals and two assists over his last three games. Buffalo’s recent aggressive play with the puck and their ability to capitalize on scoring chances have been key to their success.

What to Watch For

The Sabres are looking to take advantage of a fragile Penguins squad that has struggled defensively and on the road. Buffalo’s recent momentum and Pittsburgh’s instability in net could set the stage for another strong performance by the Sabres. However, the Penguins’ veteran stars like Crosby and Malkin will look to rise to the occasion as they fight to stay in the playoff hunt.

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