3:07 pm
May 8

Sabres @ Penguins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Buffalo Sabres (15-33-7)

@ Pittsburgh Penguins (36-16-3)

 

Starting Goalies:

Michael Houser (BUF): Confirmed

Maxime Lagace (PIT): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Buffalo Sabres: (+280)

Pittsburgh Penguins: (-360)

 

• It will be the final regular-season game for both clubs Saturday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Buffalo Sabres. For Pittsburgh, the stakes are high.

• The Penguins (36-16-3, 75 points) are in a chase for first place or at least home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs in the East Division, where the top four spots are tighter than a lot of people’s belts coming out of COVID-19 quarantine. Even the Sabres (15-33-7, 37 points), in last place in the division, realize the pressure that’s on the Penguins.

• Pittsburgh won’t know where it will finish in the standings or whom it will face in the first round until other teams in the East play games in the next few days that have to be made up after postponements. The most the Penguins can do is make sure they come away with two points Saturday — which would mean finishing with nine wins over their final 11 games, including Thursday’s 8-4 win over Buffalo.

• The Sabres would argue against the idea they have nothing to play for Saturday beyond pride and perhaps future player contracts. They feel an obligation to be better in front of rookie goaltender Michael Houser.

• Houser, 28, has been one of the feel-good stories of the past week. Injuries have given him a shot to make his NHL debut and start the past three games after he bounced around the minor leagues for years. Granato said Linus Ullmark, the only injured goalie who had a shot to play before the season ends, is unlikely to be ready Saturday. Houser faced 34 shots Thursday — many high-quality — and his teammates said they bore some responsibility for the eight goals allowed.

• Houser won his first two starts, upsets over the New York Islanders, and now gets to play in front of family and friends. He grew up and played youth hockey in suburban Pittsburgh.

8/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Pittsburgh Penguins
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