Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, 12/17/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Date: Friday, December 17, 2021

Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+220) Penguins (-278)

PPG Paints Arena is the venue where Tristan Jarry and the Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-5) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (9-15-4) on Friday. The odds on this contest have the Sabres priced at +220 and the Penguins are at -278. The O/U opens at 5.5.

The Buffalo Sabres were on the right side of the scoreboard with a 4-2 victory against the Jets in their previous game. Buffalo recorded 4 minutes in the box for this game. The Sabres had a solid offensive outing and it was apparent in the win. They also had 2 power play chances and were able to notch 1 goal. In the game, they converted 4 of the 27 shots they put on net.

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In terms of their scoring, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 76 goals (21st in the National Hockey League) so far this year and have allowed 98. For the current season, they have 22 points and their points percentage is sitting at .393. Buffalo skates onto the rink with 71 power play chances and they have tallied 14 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 19.72%. At even strength, the Sabres let the opposition score 84 goals while earning 62 on the offensive side of the ice. Buffalo has tried 824 shots and holds a shot percentage of 9.2%. The Sabres have had 943 shots tried against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .896. Buffalo Sabres opponents have 69 power play opportunities (30th in professional hockey) and have a total of 14 goals in those chances.

The player in the crease for this game is Malcolm Subban. Opponents have been able to score 234 goals versus Subban in his pro hockey career and his goals against average per game is 3.06. Subban has been involved in 83 contests over the course of his hockey career. His save percentage is .898 for his 4,584 minutes between the pipes. He has amassed an overall mark of 36-32-8 and he was named the starter in 75 games. Throughout his time in hockey, Subban has recorded 29 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .387. Subban has had 2,290 shot attempts against him and has gathered 2,056 saves.

When they were on the ice last, Pittsburgh faced the Canadiens in a matchup where the Penguins notched a win by a tally of 5-2. They had 5 power play opportunities in this matchup and tallied 1 goal out of those tries. The Penguins recorded 5 goals of the 31 shots on goal they were seeking.

Pittsburgh has attempted 981 shots (4th in the NHL) and has a shot percentage of 8.56%, while allowing the other team 850 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 92.65% on the other teams 68 chances on the power play, and their save percentage is 92.0%. They have earned 79 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 15.19%. The Penguins have accumulated 72 goals at even strength and 12 goals (27th in the league) while on the power play. They have permitted 68 goals to be scored by way of 63 goals at even strength and 5 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have earned a total of 84 goals, 35 points, in addition to a points percentage of .625.

For the opposition you are going to see Tristan Jarry between the pipes. Jarry is the owner of a lifetime mark of 72-34-11 and has played in 123 games. Jarry's quality start percentage comes out to 64.1% and he has qualified for 75 quality starts in his NHL career. He has accounted for 3,219 stops out of the 3,513 shots taken against him, giving him a save percentage of .916. His opposition is averaging 2.52 goals per game and he has given up 294 goals altogether. He has started in 117 contests and has been on the ice for 6,994 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+220)

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