Sabres Look to Keep Penguins Down in Friday Night Showdown

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a rough spot right now, and the Buffalo Sabres are ready to take full advantage. As these two Eastern Conference teams face off Friday night, the Penguins are looking to stop their freefall, while the Sabres aim to keep their recent momentum alive.

Penguins: Searching for Answers

Things haven’t been great for Pittsburgh since the holiday break. After a solid stretch leading into Christmas, the Penguins have hit a serious slump, going just 2-5-3 since then. They’ve lost their last three games, getting outscored 14-4 in the process. To make things worse, they blew a late lead against Seattle on Tuesday, giving up two quick goals in a frustrating 4-2 loss.

Team captain Sidney Crosby summed up the team’s current vibe:
“We did a lot of good things, but we just found a way to lose. We’ve got to figure out how to win games.”

Evgeni Malkin, fresh off an injury, didn’t sugarcoat things either:
“If we want to play in the playoffs, we’ve got to be better. Better in every zone, every moment, every detail.”

The Penguins’ goaltending situation isn’t helping either. Tristan Jarry, their veteran netminder, got waived after struggling against Seattle. Now it’s up to Alex Nedeljkovic and rookie Joel Blomqvist to hold the fort. With the team winless in its last five road games, this trip to Buffalo feels like a must-win.

Sabres: Trending Up

Meanwhile, things are starting to click for the Sabres. Sure, they’re still last in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve won three of their last four games and have been lighting the lamp regularly—scoring four goals in each of those wins.

Their latest victory? A 4-2 takedown of the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, featuring Ryan McLeod’s first career hat trick. McLeod is riding high right now, with four goals and two assists in his last three games.
“We’ve worked hard on this. We know what we’re doing. It’s about staying calm and sticking to the plan,” McLeod said confidently.

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Dylan Cozens, who’s scored twice in his last three games, pointed to the team’s aggressive play as a key factor.
“We were more assertive, especially against Carolina. We played with confidence, and it showed,” he said.

Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been clutch as well, with three wins in his last four starts. He’s been solid between the pipes, giving the Sabres the kind of stability they’ve lacked in previous seasons.

Matchup to Watch

The last time these two teams met, Pittsburgh edged out Buffalo in a wild 6-5 overtime win back in October. Crosby scored the game-winner, and Malkin hit a major milestone with his 500th career goal. But Buffalo didn’t go quietly—JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch combined for some big plays, and they’ll be looking to make an impact again on Friday.

Crosby and Malkin have a history of dominating the Sabres, but Buffalo’s young stars like McLeod and Cozens are playing with confidence and could give Pittsburgh’s struggling defense a tough time.

What’s at Stake

For Pittsburgh, this game is about more than just breaking their losing streak—it’s about keeping their playoff hopes alive. For Buffalo, it’s a chance to keep proving they can hang with the big boys and keep building for the future.

The Penguins bring veteran experience and a desperate need for a win. The Sabres bring youthful energy and some serious momentum. It’s shaping up to be a high-stakes, fast-paced showdown. Can the Penguins finally turn things around, or will Buffalo keep them stuck in their slump? Tune in Friday night to find out!