Wednesday NHL Odds, Picks, Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Buffalo Sabres Betting Preview
Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Simpson.
- The Buffalo Sabres host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Wednesday's NHL action.
- The Penguins enter this showdown as solid favorites, but that hasn't stopped our analyst from finding value with the underdogs.
- Tony Sartori breaks down the game below and details why he's backing Buffalo to secure the upset.
Penguins vs. Sabres Odds
| Penguins Odds | -220 |
| Sabres Odds | +185 |
| Over/Under | 6 (+100 / -120) |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Odds via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The first TNT game Wednesday features the Metropolitan Division's third-place Pittsburgh Penguins traveling to Buffalo to take on the Atlantic Division's sixth-place Buffalo Sabres.
This will mark the third meeting between these teams, with them splitting the first two games.
So, can the Sabres pull off the upset at home or will the Penguins take advantage of playing a weaker team on national television?
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins enter this contest on the second half of a back-to-back set following Tuesday's matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Since Tristan Jarry got the start against the Blue Jackets, we can expect to see backup goaltender Casey DeSmith between the pipes against Buffalo.
Over his last nine starts, DeSmith possesses an unnoteworthy 0.900 save percentage. Without Jarry in net for Pittsburgh, the Sabres could definitely pull off an upset on home ice against a team playing its third game in four days.
As a road favorite, the Penguins are just 9-9 against the spread this season. While they got extremely hot halfway through the season, they are now just 11-10 over their last 21 games.
Pittsburgh will also need to be careful not to fall into a lookahead spot as it has a huge divisional matchup Friday against the second-place New York Rangers. Considering all of the above, I don't think it's out of the question Buffalo gives Pittsburgh trouble in this game.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres enter this contest on two days worth of rest and will look to pull off the upset. Buffalo has been in good form recently as they have won four of their last five games.
The Sabres were big underdogs in all four of those wins, but have fared well recently when priced as so. In its last nine games when priced as an underdog, Buffalo is 6-3 straight up and against the spread.
Craig Anderson is the confirmed starting goaltender for Buffalo and has been playing well, especially at home. In his nine home starts this season, Anderson is 6-3 with an outstanding 0.923 save percentage.
Those wins for Anderson are not all layups either, as he has helped to take down Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Vegas and Toronto when defending home ice.
Penguins vs. Sabres Pick
The price for the Sabres is just too long for me to pass up. Buffalo is defending home ice on national television, facing a team on the second half of a back-to-back set and playing its third game in four days.
Anderson has been great between the pipes all season at the KeyBank Center, taking down good teams as a large underdog.
Pick: Buffalo ML (+185 | Play to +165)
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