As the Pittsburgh Penguins gear up to host the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying game. The matchup scheduled for December 11 is a prime opportunity for the Penguins to capitalize on their recent momentum and deliver a performance that solidifies their standing as one of the NHL's formidable teams.

Dec 9, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jason Zucker (16) tries to control the puck as Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) defends during the first period at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Penguins have been showcasing a robust offensive front, as evidenced by their previous encounter with the St. Louis Blues on December 4, where they secured an impressive 6-2 victory. Their shooting percentage stood out at nearly 16 percent, indicating a high level of precision in their play. The powerplay unit was particularly effective, converting two opportunities and maintaining a faceoff win percentage of 50 percent during those critical moments.

Defensively, Pittsburgh has been just as dominant. Their goaltending has been stellar with a save percentage hovering around 93 percent against the Blues and an even more remarkable performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 7 where they allowed only one goal out of 39 shots – translating into an astounding save percentage of approximately 97 percent.

Dec 9, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner (53) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Sabres are not to be underestimated though; they've shown resilience and skill in past games. In their last game against Pittsburgh on December 10, despite falling short in overtime with a final score of 4-3 in favor of PIT, Buffalo demonstrated strong shorthanded capabilities and managed to keep faceoff wins competitive at over 37 percent.

However, it's clear that when it comes down to crunch time – especially in powerplay situations – Pittsburgh holds the edge. With players who can capitalize on scoring chances and maintain control over puck possession through successful faceoffs under pressure situations (as seen by their perfect faceoff win rate during powerplays), PIT seems poised for another victory.

Dec 9, 2022; Buffalo, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) looks for the puck after making a blocker save during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

With these factors in mind, fans should expect another assertive display from PIT come game day. They have consistently shown that they can control both ends of the ice effectively which could prove too much for BUF's defense to handle if trends continue.

Fans eager to witness this clash won't want to miss out when these two teams hit the ice on Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The puck drops at midnight UTC (7 PM Eastern Time), and viewers can catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or locally via SportsNet PT channel number 659 or MSG-B channel number 635-1 for those following from afar.

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