CRANBERRY, Pa. -- It's entirely possible that Buffalo will present a real challenge to the Penguins over the next few days.
Yes, the Sabres.
The team that is 0-6-2 in its past eight games, that is anchored at the bottom of the overall standings with just 16 points and that has picked up a league-low six victories in 2020-21.
Mind you, the challenge probably won't come from the Sabres' offense; it's generating just 2.25 goals per game, second-lowest figure in the NHL.
And the Penguins probably won't fret much about Buffalo's defense, which is giving up an average of 3.25. That's more than all but four other clubs. Heck, the Penguins won't even have to contend with the Sabres' best player, center Jack Eichel, because he's supposed to be sidelined for at least a week due to an unspecified injury.
So precisely what challenge will the Penguins -- who have won as many games in the past 15 days as the Sabres have all season -- be facing as they prepare to face Buffalo Thursday and Saturday at the KeyBank Center?
Mostly, it will be to not take any of those numbers too seriously, because the Sabres' victories and points -- skimpy as the totals might be -- didn't come from intra-squad games. Buffalo earned them against East Division opponents, including wins over Philadelphia and Washington.
If the Penguins finish ahead of the Flyers or Capitals, it might be because of the points the Sabres took from those clubs.
Assuming Buffalo isn't able to do the same to the Penguins, of course.
Which is why the Penguins are adamant that they aren't assuming they will leave the Niagara Frontier Saturday night with four fresh points in the standings.
"Every team goes through certain points of the season where it's a struggle," Mike Sullivan said after practice Wednesday. "Just because a team is going through a time of struggle doesn't mean they don't have good players and competitive players. On any given night, if you don't bring your 'A' game, you run the risk of getting beat. That's just the reality of the league."
If Sullivan needs to reinforce that message to his players, he might want to mention that Buffalo has won the season series from the Penguins in each of the past two seasons.
Or that Sabres goalie Carter Hutton has a career record of 5-1, including two shutouts, against them.
Or that winger Taylor Hall, despite enduring a miserable 2021-21 with just two goals in 24 games, has faced the Penguins 18 times and put up 23 points, including nine goals.
Right winger Sam Reinhart is one of the few Buffalo players having a productive season, with 11 goals and eight assists in 22 games, but he does have some teammates, including left winger Victor Olofsson, who are capable of doing damage.
"The way the league is now, there are so many guys with speed and skill that hurt you," Kris Letang said. "If you don't bring your 'A' game, if you play sloppy, any team in the NHL can hurt you. ... We can't go in there thinking about the (Sabres') record. We have to think about focusing on our game and playing the right way."
Do that, and the Penguins should have a pretty good chance of leaving Buffalo in a few days with points, rather than regrets.
ALSO AT THE PRACTICE
• Sullivan said defenseman John Marino did not participate in practice because he had been given a "maintenance day."
• Letang praised his defense partner, Brian Dumoulin, who recently rejoined the lineup after a lengthy absence because of injury. "He's such a great two-way player. Really underrated. He plays really well in every aspect of the game."
• Defenseman Mark Friedman, who is eligible to come off the injured-reserved list Thursday, was a full participant in practice, working on a pairing with Juuso Riikola. He left the Penguins' game against Philadelphia last Thursday when he appeared to be dazed after hitting Flyers forward Nolan Patrick, but said Wednesday that "I feel good."
• Sullivan, on Marcus Pettersson, who is having a mostly lackluster season: "I think Marcus is making progress. The think we've talked to Marcus about is just consistency. Consistency of play, consistency of execution and consistency of compete. When he brings all those things, he's a real good defenseman."
• Friedman is a right shot but was deployed on the left side during his two appearances with the Penguins. He said he's had extensive experience there in college and as a pro, and that "I actually like it a bit more, offensively speaking."