The Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres in a pivotal Eastern Conference matchup at KeyBank Center. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here on Last Word on Hockey!

The Pittsburgh Penguins (18-20-8) tanked their recent five-game homestand, winning only once. The resulting fallout was a drop in the standings behind six teams for a playoff spot, and general manager Kyle Dubas waived starting goalie Tristan Jarry.

The Penguins begin a seven-game road trip with a game on Friday night, Jan. 17, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

Broadcasting on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSG-B in the local markets, streaming on ESPN+. Pens’ Path Ahead: It’s a brutal path ahead for the P