Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres 21 September 2026 Prediction

  Prediction by   Gevorg Danielyan     September 20, 2026 

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres begin their preseason schedules with an exhibition game on Pittsburgh’s home ice. Their recent Eastern Conference matchups have produced plenty of goals. Both teams are expected to give new players opportunities as they prepare for the regular season.

Malkin Stays in Pittsburgh for Another Year

Led by an aging group of stars, Pittsburgh had a solid season. The Penguins finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and reached the playoffs, but lost their first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2. The club was active in the offseason and made several additions. The biggest move was a new one-year contract for Evgeni Malkin. Pittsburgh also added Andrei Kuzmenko, who played for the Los Angeles Kings last season.

Sabres Revamp Their Blue Line

Buffalo was one of last season’s biggest surprises. After a poor start, the Sabres went on a strong run and climbed to second place in the Eastern Conference. They beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before losing a seven-game series to the Montreal Canadiens. Buffalo added three defensemen during the offseason, including Olen Zellweger on a three-year contract. The young defenseman recorded 22 points, with seven goals and 15 assists, for the Anaheim Ducks last season. Louis Crevier also arrived from the Chicago Blackhawks after posting 25 points, including seven goals and 18 assists, in the regular season.

Sabres Have Struggled Against Pittsburgh

The teams last met in March, when Buffalo earned a 5-1 road win. Pittsburgh won the other two meetings last season, taking a 4-2 victory at home and a 5-2 win on the road. Including the preseason games played nearly a year ago, Buffalo has lost four of its last five matchups against the Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline

Main prediction: Both teams reached the playoffs last season. Buffalo finished higher in the standings, but Pittsburgh performed better in the head-to-head series. The Penguins also have home-ice advantage, while visiting teams often experiment with their rosters during preseason games. The preferred pick is Pittsburgh Penguins moneyline.

Totals prediction: Teams are unlikely to play conservative hockey at the start of the preseason. Recent head-to-head results also point to another high-scoring game. The teams have combined for at least six goals in each of their last eight meetings, including last year’s exhibition games. The pick is over 5.5 goals.