Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 5 2026
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The Buffalo Sabres travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday March 5, 2026 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. At the time of this writing the odds were not released for the moneyline, total, or puck line. Be sure to also check out our free NHL picks for more daily NHL betting insights and predictions.
Sabres Bringing a Hot Streak into Pittsburgh
The Buffalo Sabres enter this matchup with a strong 36-19-6 overall record and have been solid away from home with an 18-11-3 road record. Buffalo has been playing excellent hockey recently, winning four of their last five games. They recently won over the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, won over the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-2, won over the Florida Panthers 3-2, and won over the New Jersey Devils 2-1. Their lone loss in that stretch came earlier against the Pittsburgh Penguins by a 5-2 score.
Buffalo has been one of the more productive offensive teams this season, averaging 3.38 goals per game while generating 28.0 shots per contest. Defensively they allow 3.02 goals per game and opponents average 30.2 shots per game against them. The Sabres have also been effective on special teams with 36 power play goals and a 20.0% power play percentage.
One of Buffalo’s strengths this season has been their aggressive special teams and opportunistic scoring. The Sabres have also scored seven short-handed goals while maintaining an 82.8% penalty kill, showing their ability to create offense even while down a skater. 
Penguins Strong on Home Ice
The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this matchup with a 31-16-13 overall record and have been solid at home with a 15-8-7 record at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh has gone 3-2 in their last five games, recently losing to the Boston Bruins 2-1, but picking up wins over the Vegas Golden Knights 5-0 and the New Jersey Devils 4-1. They also lost to the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout but earlier defeated the Sabres on the road by a 5-2 score.
Pittsburgh has been one of the most efficient offensive teams in the NHL this season, averaging 3.42 goals per game while producing 29.1 shots per game. On defense they have been solid as well, allowing just 2.80 goals per game while limiting opponents to 27.2 shots per contest.
The Penguins’ power play has been a major weapon this season, scoring 42 power play goals with an impressive 26.8% conversion rate. Combined with a strong penalty kill at 84.3%, Pittsburgh’s special teams have been a major contributor to their success throughout the season.
Buffalo Sabres vs Pittsburgh Penguins Pick
Sabres vs Penguins Pick
- Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline
Buffalo has been playing very well recently, but Pittsburgh has been extremely strong at home and holds the edge defensively in this matchup. The Penguins are allowing fewer goals per game and have a stronger power play unit that can change games quickly. With home ice advantage and a balanced offensive attack, Pittsburgh appears to have the edge in what should be a competitive game.
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vinciletti | +5,547.00 |
| 2 |  Steve Seagrave | +3,420.00 |
| 3 |  Stephen Nover | +3,085.00 |
| 4 |  Nick Parsons | +1,166.00 |
| 5 |  Tom Macrina | +740.00 |
Sabres vs Penguins Total Pick
- Pick: Take the Over
I like the over in this game because both teams have been scoring at a high rate this season. Buffalo averages well over three goals per game and Pittsburgh is one of the most efficient scoring teams in the league. With two aggressive offenses and strong power play units on both sides, I expect scoring chances to come frequently in this matchup.
Final Score Prediction: Penguins 4, Sabres 3
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Wednesday.
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