Despite being the top team in the Eastern Conference for most of this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ biggest struggle has come against the league’s worst.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen Monday night as the Penguins blanked the Buffalo Sabres 3-0.
Pittsburgh came into the match up after losing their last game to the tenth place Dallas Stars on Saturday night. It was the fourth loss in five games against a team that was out of playoff contention.
The Penguins dominated the first period and outshot the Sabres 15-5 in the first period but failed to score.
Chris Kunitz scored his 26th goal of the season 5:44 into the second period. Sidney Crosby made a perfect pass to Brian Gibbons in front of the net. Gibbons’s shot hit the left post but looked close to a goal as the light came on. With everyone stopping, thinking the play was over, Kunitz backhanded the rebound into a wide open net to ensure a goal for Pittsburgh.
Less than seven minutes later, Deryk Engelland scored his fourth of the year. Tanner Glass’s backhand pass to the front of the net setup Engelland who chipped in the rebound. It was the first time the fourth line produced a goal in over a month.
Marc-Andre Fleury preserved the shutout with a few spectacular saves and strong defense from the Penguins.
Tanner Glass scored an empty net goal to ensure the win for the Penguins.
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Chris Kunitz
- Tanner Glass
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
