Feb. 5, 2026, 3:20 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) visit the Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6) Thursday. Puck drop from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Penguins vs. Sabres odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Pens lead 1-0 after 4-2 home win as -115 favorites Nov. 26. The Under (6.5) cashed.
The Penguins have dropped 2 straight after a 5-4 OT loss to the New York Islanders on a back-to-back Tuesday. They were -118 road favorites as the Over of 5.5 cleared. RW Anthony Mantha netted his 20th goal of the season. C Sidney Crosby had an assist, but the future Hall of Famer has no goals and 2 assists in his last 5 games as he prepares to play for Team Canada.
The Sabres fell 4-3 in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday as +172 road dogs. The Over (6) cleared as the Sabres dropped their second in 3 games following a 5-game winning streak. D Mattias Samuelsson had 2 goals to give him 11 on the season. The Sabres, who have not made the playoffs since 2011, sit in the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Watch the NHL on Fubo!Penguins at Sabres odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Penguins +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Sabres -125 (bet $125 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-225) | Sabres-1.5 (+185)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)Penguins at Sabres projected goalies
Arturs Silovs (10-7-8, 2.97 GAA, .893 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Alex Lyon (14-7-3, 2.66 GAA, .914 SV%, 2 SO)
The Penguins have used a rotation of every other game for their goalies, which would peg Silovs for the final game before the Olympic break. He was in goal for a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday, stopping 28 of 31 shots fired his way. The Latvian hasn’t faced the Sabres in his career.
Lyon defeated the Florida Panthers 5-3 Monday, making 39 saves on 42 shots blistered his way. Before that, he went 3-1-0 with a 1.77 GAA and .945 SV% in 4 January starts with 1 shutout. Lyon defeated the Pens 4-2 last season, stopping 23 of 25 while with the Detroit Red Wings.
Penguins at Sabres picks and predictionsPrediction
Sabres 5, Penguins 4
The Pens are without D Kris Letang, who is on IR with a foot injury. Anything can happen on the last day of play for 3 weeks, but the Sabres are 17-7-3 at home. Take the SABRES (-125) as they’re the safer bet.
Let’s go with TAGE THOMPSON OVER 3.5 SHOTS (+110). Over his last 4 games he has: 5, 4, 5 and 5 shots on goal.
The Penguins are 7-3 O/U in their last 10 while the Sabres are 5-5. The Pens have 3+ goals in 9 of 10, and that’s what it’ll take to cash the OVER 6.5 (-120).
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