Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 2/5/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

The Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-11) are headed to KeyBank Center on Thursday where they will try to beat the Buffalo Sabres (32-18-5).

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look for better times on the ice after their 3-2 defeat against the Senators in the last game they played. Pittsburgh compiled 10 mins in the box in this contest. The Penguins could have played much better offensively in this loss. Additionally, they had 1 power play try but didn't get a goal. In the game, they scored on 2 of the 16 shots they put on goal.

Regarding their scoring capabilities, the Pittsburgh Penguins have tallied 182 goals (11th in the league) so far this season and have allowed 155. For the current season, they have earned 67 points and their points percentage comes in at .620. Pittsburgh has compiled 142 power play opportunities and they have scored 38 goals out of those attempts, garnering them a rate of 26.76%. At even strength, the Penguins have conceded 130 goals while scoring 144 on the offensive side of the ice. Pittsburgh has taken 1,558 shots and holds a shooting percentage of 11.7%. The Penguins have seen 1,478 shots taken against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .895. Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have amassed 156 power play opportunities (19th in hockey) and have earned 25 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the net in this game is Stuart Skinner. During his career on the ice, Skinner has recorded 112 quality starts and his quality starts percentage sits at .552. He has a save percentage of .904 during his 9,306 mins in the crease. Skinner has seen 5,676 shot attempts taken against him and he has 5,129 saves. The opposition has racked up 547 goals versus Skinner in his professional hockey career and his goals against rate is 2.69. He has amassed a mark of 117-66-18 and he has gotten the start in 203 games. Skinner has taken the ice for 209 matchups throughout his hockey career.

In their last game, Buffalo opposed the Panthers in a matchup where the Sabres notched a win by a final score of 5-3. The Sabres tallied 5 goals out of the 20 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this outing and scored 1 out of those attempts.

The Sabres have 155 goals at even strength and 32 goals (16th in the NHL) while on the power play. Buffalo has attempted 1,521 shots (19th in hockey) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 12.29%, while allowing their opponents 1,646 shots. Over the course of the season, the Buffalo Sabres have earned a total of 187 goals, 69 points, and a points percentage of .627. They have granted a total of 167 goals to be scored by of a combination of 141 goals at even strength and 26 goals while they had less men on the ice. They have a tally of 161 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 19.88%. They have recorded a penalty kill rate of 82.55% on their opponents 149 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage is 89.9%.

Across the ice you are going to see Alex Lyon defending the goal. The opposition is averaging 2.96 goals per contest and he has allowed 367 goals overall. Lyon's percentage of quality starts is 55.6% and he has qualified for 69 quality starts in his NHL career. He got the starting nod in 124 games and his ice time sits at 6,049 mins. Lyon is the owner of a career record of 65-45-14 and has participated in 139 games. He has recorded 3,466 stops out of the 3,833 shots attempted against him, giving him a percentage of .904.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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