Intelligent Hockey: Best Bets for Saturday's slate
Midway through the season, the conversation frequently turns toward accountability. Successive losses and unmet expectations lead to coach firings because someone needs to be held responsible. Poor puck management and bad decision-making in terms of positioning affects players’ time on ice. Lacklustre goaltending can potentially crater a team’s Stanley Cup dreams, and the tendency is to play the hot hand/glove. This week’s best bets feature teams under heavy scrutiny, and I identify three that have made some changes and are going to make a statement.
Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins
Saturday January 6 – 7:00 PM ET
Have the Pittsburgh Penguins figured things out? They are 8-2-1 in their last eleven games after losing 15 of their first 26. As NHL Network’s Mike Kelly noted on Twitter/X, the Penguins lead the NHL in inner slot shots over their last 11 contests.
Pittsburgh was mired in a horrific power-play slump, but since snapping out of it, only five teams have potted more goals on the man-advantage. At 5-on-5, the Penguins are getting more secondary scoring, not solely relying on Sidney Crosby’s line for offence. The Penguins look to be trending up despite a notable dip in play from goaltender Tristan Jarry since December 1st. And yet, despite all the fuzzy feelings, I just can’t quite trust Pittsburgh, and am choosing the Buffalo Sabres’ underdog puck line against them.
As good as the Penguins have been offensively, they can be exploited defensively. This reality is underscored by the fact that, during this highly successful eleven-game stretch, Pittsburgh ranks just outside the bottom ten in high-danger chances allowed.
The Penguins victory against Boston on Thursday showcased some of the defensive weaknesses
