The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Buffalo for an Eastern Conference showdown against the Sabres, with both teams vying for playoff positioning in their respective divisions. The Penguins, second in the Metropolitan, have shown resilience despite injuries, relying on veterans like Sidney Crosby for offensive firepower. The Sabres, fourth in the Atlantic, boast a strong home record and a balanced attack led by Tage Thompson, but defensive lapses have plagued them recently. This matchup could be decided by special teams, where Pittsburgh ranks in the top 10 for power play efficiency (23.4%), while Buffalo struggles on the penalty kill (78.2%). Expect a fast-paced game with potential for high scoring given both teams’ recent over trends.
Venue Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT).
Injury Report
Both teams are relatively healthy heading into this contest, but key absences could impact defensive pairings and depth scoring. Pittsburgh is managing a significant loss on the blue line, while Buffalo has no major reported injuries affecting their core lineup.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Out: Kris Letang (D, foot injury) – Expected return February 28, 2026; Filip Hallander (F, leg) – Placed on IR.
Questionable/Day-to-Day: None reported.
Buffalo Sabres:
Out: None reported.
Questionable/Day-to-Day: None reported.
Key Player Matchups
With injuries thinning Pittsburgh’s defense, Buffalo’s forwards could exploit mismatches. Projected lines based on recent games: Penguins – Crosby line vs. Sabres’ top defensive pair; Malkin centering second line against Mittelstadt. Special teams battles will be crucial.
Sidney Crosby (PIT, C) vs. Rasmus Dahlin (BUF, D): Crosby (0.98 PPG, 24 goals) remains Pittsburgh’s offensive catalyst, using speed and vision to create chances; Dahlin (0.82 PPG, strong two-way play) must contain him on rushes and power plays.
Evgeni Malkin (PIT, C) vs. Tage Thompson (BUF, C): Malkin (0.89 PPG) provides secondary scoring with playmaking; Thompson (0.95 PPG, 28 goals) is Buffalo’s sniper, thriving in faceoffs and odd-man rushes.
Tristan Jarry (PIT, G) vs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF, G): Jarry (.912 SV%, 2.78 GAA) has been steady but vulnerable lately; Luukkonen (.914 SV%, 2.65 GAA) excels at home, potentially tipping a low-scoring affair.
Other Notes: Without Letang, Pittsburgh’s blue line leans on Erik Karlsson vs. Buffalo’s forecheck; Sabres’ depth forwards like Alex Tuch could target gaps.
Recent Team Forms
Pittsburgh Penguins (7-3 in last 10 games): Averaging 3.4 GPG while allowing 2.8. They’ve won five of seven, including a 4-3 OT win over Florida and 5-2 over Toronto, but suffered OT losses to Carolina and Minnesota. Road form: 6-3-1 in last 10 away, with strong special teams (4-1 in recent power play opportunities).
Buffalo Sabres (6-4 in last 10 games): Averaging 3.6 GPG while allowing 3.0. Winners of four straight before a recent OT loss to Minnesota, including 5-2 over LA and 4-1 over Montreal. Home form: 8-2 in last 10 at KeyBank Center, outscoring opponents 38-25.
Series History
The Penguins lead the all-time series 121-95-18, but Buffalo has won four of the last six meetings, including a 4-3 OT victory on November 15, 2025. In Buffalo, the Sabres are 52-48-9 all-time vs. Pittsburgh. Recent games average 6.2 total goals, with over hitting in five of last seven. Pittsburgh covered as +1.5 underdogs in their last road loss here.
Betting Trends
Spread (ATS): Sabres 29-27 ATS overall, 16-11 at home; Penguins 25-30 ATS, 14-13 on road, 5-4 as underdogs of +110 or longer.
Over/Under: Over has hit in 6 of Sabres’ last 10 (60%) and 7 of Penguins’ last 10 (70%), with combined averages at 6.4 GPG recently.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Penguins 6.5
Buffalo Sabres – 125
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, February 4, 2026
