Penguins and Sabres Clash in Tight Atlantic Division Matchup

Pittsburgh and Buffalo meet in key NHL game with playoff implications

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Penguins (28-15-12) and Buffalo Sabres (32-18-6) will face off in an important Atlantic Division matchup on Thursday, February 5th at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Both teams are jockeying for position in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race, with the Sabres currently holding the fourth spot in the division and the Penguins right behind them in second. This should be a closely contested game between two talented squads.

Why it matters

This game has major implications in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Sabres are looking to solidify their position in the top four, while the Penguins are trying to gain ground and potentially overtake them. With both teams coming off tough losses in their previous outings, they'll be eager to bounce back with a crucial victory.

The details

The Penguins are led by superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who have combined for 57 points this season. However, they've lost two straight games and will be looking to get back on track. The Sabres, meanwhile, are paced by Tage Thompson's 29 goals and 29 assists, as well as a strong two-way game from Alex Tuch. Buffalo has won 8 of its last 9 games against opponents on a losing streak, so they'll be confident heading into this matchup.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST.
  • The Penguins are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Islanders in their last game on February 3rd.
  • The Sabres most recently fell 4-3 in overtime to the Lightning on February 4th.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The Penguins' captain and future Hall of Famer, Crosby has 27 goals and 32 assists this season.

Evgeni Malkin

A longtime star center for the Penguins, Malkin has contributed 13 goals and 30 assists so far in 2025-26.

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer, Thompson has 29 goals and 29 assists this season.

Alex Tuch

A two-way forward for the Sabres, Tuch has 22 goals and 26 assists in 2025-26.

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What they’re saying

“We know this is a big game for us against a tough divisional opponent. We need to come out with a strong effort and play our game for 60 minutes.”

— Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

“The Penguins are always a challenge, but we're confident in our ability to match up with them. It's going to take a full team effort to come out on top tonight.”

— Tage Thompson, Forward (Buffalo News)

What’s next

The Penguins and Sabres will meet again on March 12th in Pittsburgh, setting up a potential playoff preview late in the season.

The takeaway

This game between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams should be an exciting, hard-fought affair with major implications for the playoff race. Fans can expect a tight, physical matchup between two evenly-matched squads looking to gain an edge in the tight Atlantic Division.