Penguins Preview: Jake Guentzel Earning Huge Pay Day
There's plenty to watch when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Buffalo Sabres at home.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins were pushed to the limit in their most recent contest. Facing the league-leading Boston Bruins, the Penguins squandered a three-goal lead before ultimately securing the victory and earning a hard-fought two points. Riding high with an 8-2-1, the Penguins are looking to leapfrog themselves into a wild card position.
Standing in their way is a struggling Buffalo Sabres squad. Here’s what to watch for as the Penguins take on the Sabres.
1. Jake Guentzel Earning Pay Day
It’s no surprise to see Jake Guentzel having another superb offensive season. He’s leading the Pens in scoring with 43 points (18G-25A) in 37 games. He and Sidney Crosby are carrying the majority of the offensive load for the Penguins, paving the way for a possible playoff berth.
With how well he’s played, it is a bit of a shock to see how much buzz there is around the Penguins possibly trading him prior to the deadline. Guentzel and the Pens have made no movement on a contract extension, further fueling the possible trade rumors. Regardless of where he plays, he’s earning a huge next contract. For the Sabres, it means they will have a hell of a time stopping the elite forward.
2. Jeff Skinner Pacing Sabres
The Sabres desperately lack a star forward to lead their team. That doesn’t mean they don’t have talented players, however. The cream of the crop in Buffalo is veteran scorer Jeff Skinner. The six-time 30+ goal scorer is on a similar pace again for the Sabres, and could very well be the only 30 goal scorer in Buffalo this campaign.
If the Penguins earn two points in this contest, they’ll need to limit the damage Skinner does. Look for Kris Letang to draw frequent matchups against Skinner, and it should make for a competitive battle for both players.
3. Home Ice Advantage
The Penguins have dominated teams when playing at PPG Paints Arena since moving to their new home over a decade ago. This season started on a difficult note at home, but the Pens have turned the tide since then. Over their past eight home games, they are 6-1-1, bringing their home record on the year to 10-7-1. Welcoming Buffalo to PPG is a great chance for the Pens to continue their winning ways at home, as the Sabres are 8-10-1 on the road this season.
The Penguins and Sabres face off at PPG Paints Arena at 7:00 p.m.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins