Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 3/27/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Penguins (-130) Sabres (+110)

The Buffalo Sabres (28-35-6) will try to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins (29-32-11) at KeyBank Center on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Penguins at -130 while the Sabres are coming in at +110. The over/under is set at 6.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a decent effort after finishing in a 3-3 tie against the Panthers their last time out. The Penguins offense showed they have some room for improvement in this game. For the outing, they converted 3 out of the 27 shots they attempted. In addition, they had 3 chances with the advantage and were able to notch 2 goals. Pittsburgh recorded 4 penalty mins in this matchup.

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Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have recorded 189 power play opportunities (20th in the NHL) and have a total of 43 goals in those attempts. The Penguins thus far have had 2,202 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .884. Pittsburgh has tried 2,038 shots and has a shooting percentage of 10.4%. When playing at even strength, the Penguins have given up 212 goals while notching 164 on offense. Pittsburgh steps onto the ice with 196 power play opportunities and they have added 48 goals out of those chances, earning them a rate of 24.49%. For the season, they have racked up 69 points and their points percentage is sitting at .479. When it comes to their goal scoring prowess, the Pittsburgh Penguins have earned 212 goals (16th in the National Hockey League) on the campaign and have given up 255.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Tristan Jarry. Opponents have racked up 734 goals against Jarry in his career and his goals against average per game is 3.03. Jarry has been in net for 285 matchups over the course of his NHL career. His save percentage is at .910 for his 14,527 minutes played. He has compiled a win-loss mark of 148-94-30 and he started in 273 games. In his professional hockey career, Jarry has accumulated 161 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .590. Jarry has seen 8,145 shots taken against him and has garnered 7,411 saves.

When they were on the ice last, Buffalo played the Jets in a game where the Sabres got the victory by a final of 5-3. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this one and recorded 1 out of those chances. The Sabres scored 5 goals out of the 17 shots on goal they pursued.

The Sabres have 178 goals at even strength and 36 goals (24th in professional hockey) while having a power play advantage. Buffalo has put up 1,905 shots (28th in professional hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.23%, while allowing the other team 1,986 shots. So far this season, the Buffalo Sabres have accounted for 214 goals, 62 points, in addition to a points percentage of .449. They have allowed 243 goals to be scored by way of 195 goals at even strength and 48 goals while they were shorthanded. They have a total of 200 opportunities on the power play and they have earned a power play percentage of 18.00%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 76.92% on their oppositions 208 power play tries, and their save percentage is 87.8%.

For the opposition you are likely to see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen between the pipes. The opposition is averaging 4.51 goals per game and he has allowed 438 goals altogether. Luukkonen's quality start rate comes out to 53.1% and he has made 78 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He was named a starter in 147 contests and has played for a total of 5,833 minutes. Luukkonen has accumulated a lifetime record of 70-63-14 and has been in goal for 151 games. He has recorded 3,884 stops out of the 4,322 shots taken, which gives him a save % of .899.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (-130)

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