Once again the Buffalo Sabres faced the hottest team in the league on the road, and once again they emerged with a win.
The effort was certainly better for the Pittsburgh Penguins who lost on April 2nd to the Sabres, snapping a 15 game winning streak, but Buffalo grinded out a win despite already being eliminated from playoff contention.
Ryan Miller stopped 40 of 42 shots, earning the second star of the game and a win.
The Penguins welcomed back Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin and Beau Bennett but, once again, couldn’t solve Miller.
Pittsburgh dominated the opening minutes of the game but came away without a goal. Malkin, returning to action after missing four games with a nagging shoulder injury, looked strong on the puck and possessed the speed and vision Pittsburgh fans have been used to seeing from him.
The Sabres got on the board first with a goal form Thomas Vanek 12:49 into the opening frame. Cody Hodgson went behind the net and backhanded a pass to Vanek who was all alone in the slot. Vanek blasted a one-timer that beat Marc-Andre Fleury.
Buffalo couldn’t celebrate long as Chris Kunitz came right back and scored 20 seconds later. Brandon Sutter won the neutral zone face off and Kunitz snapped a shot that bounced off of Miller’s glove and in the net.
The Sabres appeared to a take a 2-1 lead six minutes into the second period but the goal was waved off after Vanek was called for interference. The Penguins were given two power play opportunities in the second period but failed to cash in against the 26th ranked penalty killing team.
Jochen Hecht scored 6:11 into the third period when his slap shot beat Fleury’s glove hand. Mark Eaton couldn’t reach the puck as it headed towards the middle of the defensive zone and Hecht blasted the puck past the goaltender.
The Penguins were given a power play midway through the third period and scored to tie the game at two. Evgeni Malkin went cross-ice to Jarome Iginla who sent a one touch pass to Kris Letang. The puck was sent back to Iginla who one-timed the biscuit off the far post and in from the top of the left-wing circle.
With under three minutes remaining in the game, Steve Ott scored to put the Sabres up for good. Mark Eaton failed to glove the puck down and, instead, it found Mark Pysyk who had a shot in close. Fleury stopped the puck with his glove but Ott batted the puck out of midair and into the net. The goal went to Toronto for video review but it was determined a good goal for Buffalo.
Pittsburgh tried to tie the game with their goalie pulled but Thomas Vanek tipped in the empty-net tally to put the game on ice.
- The Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils are the only two teams to beat Pittsburgh more than once this season.
- The Penguins have lost just three times in their last 25 games, twice to Buffalo.
- Brooks Orpik did not play the final two periods due to a lower body injury.
Three Stars
- Thomas Vanek
- Ryan Miller
- Jarome Iginla
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
