The Buffalo Sabres may have a few players that fit exactly what the Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for at the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Penguins face hurdles, Buffalo Sabres rise. Detroit and Montreal excel, showcasing robust performances. Can the Penguins bounce back tonight?

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Absent some long winning streak, the Sabres are toast. There have been 77 winning streaks in the NHL of at least five games since the last time the Sabres won even four in a row in January 2023.

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins, on a three-game losing streak, take on the Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo has a 9-11-3 record at home and a 17-22-5 record overall. The Sabres have a -13 scoring differential, with 134 total goals scored and 147 allowed.

JJ Peterka had two goals, while Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker totaled five points in that loss at Pittsburgh, which is five points ahead of the Sabres in the conference. Thompson, Tuch and Tucker combined for four assists and Ryan McLeod posted his first career hat trick during Buffalo's 4-2 home victory over Carolina on Wednesday.

The Sabres survived despite becoming the first team in NHL shot tracking history (to 1965) to score a goal in a 20-minute period without a shot on goal.

On Oct. 16 in Pittsburgh the Sabres started the habit of getting and blowing leads. Buffalo had a 2-0 and 3-1 first period lead against the Penguins only to lose in overtime on a Sidney Crosby overtime goal.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are continuing to battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but likely will be sellers at the deadline.

Prediction for the NHL-1 match between Buffalo vs Pittsburgh, which will take place on January 18th. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the teams' conditions! Several betting options are available.