Hurricanes vs Sabres Prediction & Odds - 2/28/2025

The Buffalo Sabres bring their red-hot momentum to PNC Arena as they face the Carolina Hurricanes in what promises to be an intriguing Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday night.

The Sabres enter the contest riding high with six victories in their last seven games, including an impressive comeback win against Anaheim, while the Hurricanes look to snap out of a concerning stretch that has seen them drop five of their last six contests.

Buffalo's offensive surge, averaging four goals per game over their last ten outings, will be tested against Carolina's traditionally strong home defense, where the Hurricanes boast an impressive 21-6-1 record this season.

The historical edge belongs to Carolina, who holds a 6-3-1 advantage in the teams' last ten meetings, though Buffalo has claimed the most recent two encounters, including a 4-2 victory in their first matchup this season.

Dylan Cozens' recent playmaking excellence for the Sabres, evidenced by his three-assist performance against Anaheim, could prove crucial against a Hurricanes team that remains one of the NHL's best penalty-killing units.

As these teams head in opposite directions, Thursday's clash at PNC Arena will reveal whether Buffalo can maintain their momentum or if Carolina can reclaim their dominant home-ice form.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres preview

The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres are set to face off in a compelling Eastern Conference matchup at PNC Arena, with both teams experiencing drastically different trajectories in recent weeks.

The Sabres enter the contest riding an impressive hot streak, having won six of their last seven games, including a gutsy 3-2 comeback victory against Anaheim where they dominated with 37 shots on goal.

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are looking to break out of a concerning slump, having dropped five of their last six games, most recently suffering a 4-0 shutout loss to Montreal.

Despite their recent struggles, Carolina maintains a strong position tied for second in the Metropolitan Division and boasts an impressive 21-6-1 home record this season.

Buffalo's offense has found its rhythm lately, averaging four goals per game over their last ten contests, with JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch, and Dylan Cozens emerging as key contributors to their recent success.

The goaltending matchup will feature Buffalo's Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, coming off a solid 16-save performance, against Carolina's Pyotr Kochetkov, who looks to help stabilize the Hurricanes' recent defensive issues.

Historical context adds intrigue to this matchup, as while Carolina holds a 6-3-1 advantage in the last ten meetings, Buffalo has claimed the last two encounters, including a 4-2 victory in their most recent matchup on January 15.

The Hurricanes' special teams could prove decisive, as they boast the league's second-best penalty kill at 84.3%, though their power play has struggled, converting at just 19.4% this season.

With Carolina's dominant home record and Buffalo's road struggles (9-15-2), the Hurricanes appear poised to snap their recent skid, though the Sabres' surging offense could make this a closer contest than the odds suggest.