The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, January 5, at the KeyBank Center, with the puck dropping at 7:00 pm EST. This Pittsburgh Penguins game preview highlights team lineups, injury news, and recent performance as the two closely matched teams prepare to compete.
Recent Team Performances and Context
The Penguins enter the game following a 5-4 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday, marking their second consecutive defeat. Despite the setbacks, Pittsburgh holds a record of 3-1-1 over their last five games, with the offense averaging 4.2 goals per game and conceding an average of 3.4.
Buffalo also suffered an overtime loss to Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, falling 4-3. The Sabres have been more consistent lately, earning points in seven of their last eight outings. They have scored an average of 4.4 goals per game while limiting opponents to 2.6 goals on average during this stretch.
Pittsburgh Penguins Expected Line Combinations
The projected forward lines for the Penguins are centered around top players Connor Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The first line features Rakell, Crosby, and Rust, while the second line showcases Chinakhov, Novak, and Malkin. The third line includes Mantha, Kindel, and Brazeau, and the fourth line consists of Dewar, Lizotte, and Acciari. On defense, Wotherspoon pairs with Karlsson, Kulak with Shea, Solovyov with Clifton, and Skinner rounds out the group. The goaltending duties are expected to be handled by Silovs.
Buffalo Sabres Potential Lineups
Buffalo’s forward lines are anchored by Krebs, Thompson, and Tuch on the first line, followed by Zucker, McLeod, and Quinn. The third line includes Doan, Ostlund, and Helenius, and the fourth features Rosen, Kozak, and Malenstyn. The Sabres utilize Samuelsson and Dahlin together, with Power and Byram forming another defensive pair and Bryson teaming with Metsa. Ellis is also part of the defensive rotation, while Lyon is expected to start in goal.
Players to Follow in Tonight’s Matchup
For Pittsburgh, Connor Dewar is a forward to watch as he scored a goal against Buffalo in their previous meeting in November. On the Sabres’ side, Jack Quinn had a notable performance with a goal and an assist in the November 26th game versus Pittsburgh, indicating he may be a key contributor again.
Current Injury Reports for Both Teams
Pittsburgh’s roster is impacted by several injuries: Center Filip Hallander and defensemen Joel Blomqvist, Caleb Jones, and Ryan Graves are on injured reserve. Forward Jack St. Ivany is also sidelined, along with Bryan Rust, who remains out of the lineup. Kris Letang is listed on injured reserve as well.
Buffalo is managing multiple absences including defenseman Conor Timmins and forwards Jiri Kulich, Justin Danforth, Josh Norris, Josh Dunne, and Zach Benson, who is listed as day-to-day. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is confirmed out for the matchup.
Upcoming Schedule and Next Matches
Following this game, both teams have a series of upcoming NHL contests to prepare for, including matchups like the Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres on January 14 and Buffalo’s game against the New York Islanders on January 24. Pittsburgh will also host the Chicago Blackhawks on January 29, continuing the busy mid-season schedule.
