Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The final game of the 2025-26 preseason looked to be in the bag for the Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, a stout third-period push from the Pittsburgh Penguins sent the blue and gold packing, losers 5-4 in overtime at PPG Paints Arena.
Pittsburgh took the first lead 8:59 into the affair, on an odd play.
Penguins forward Philip Tomasino closed in on Alex Lyon, and broke away from Bowen Byram on his way in.
In an effort to close the gap, Byram caused too much contact and knocked Tomasino, and the puck, into Lyon. All three ended up across the goal line, and after a review it was determined that because Byram caused the pile-up, it was a good goal.
Early in the second period, the Sabres tied things up. Josh Norris was a disruptor in the neutral zone, and skated the other way after causing a turnover. Deep down the left-wing side, Norris' centering feed connected with Tage Thompson in front to make it 1-1 in Pittsburgh.
Four-minutes later, the blue and gold took the lead. Alex Tuch's low shot bounded off the pads of goalie Tristan Jarry, and the rebound was rammed home by Jiri Kulich to make it 2-1 Buffalo.
The goals kept on coming, as on the powerplay Jason Zucker grabbed the puck coming hard off the back wall, and deposited it in behind Jarry on the man advantage. Suddenly, the Sabres owned a 3-1 edge.
Pittsburgh trimmed the Sabres' lead in half shortly thereafter, courtesy of Harrison Brunicke. The young defenseman showcased some sick hands, as Brunicke went short-side, top shelf to make it a 3-2 contest.
The blue and gold had a great response, though. Less than three-minutes later, Tuch and Kulich skated in together again. Tuch let loose a hard wrist-shot, that was not gathered by netminder Sergei Murashov. Once again, it was Kulich the beneficiary near the crease, and deposited his second goal of the night.
The third frame was dominated by the Penguins, who tied up the score before period's end in large part to the team's presence on the powerplay. First, it was forward Rickard Rakell on the doorstep to make it 4-3 Sabres with 13:15 to play.
Seven-minutes later, it was Buffalo's eternal nightmare -- Sidney Crosby wrapped around the game's tying goal in the late stages of regulation.
60-minutes wasn't enough, as overtime loomed. The ice crew barely got off the ice, though, as Pittsburgh needed just nine-seconds to drop the curtain on the blue and gold.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson rushed hard down the left-wing, forcing an over-commitment. Karlsson then located Crosby on the backdoor to complete the comeback and send the Sabres back to Buffalo on a sour note, as a two-goal third period lead was officially erased for good with the 5-4 overtime final.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 8:59 - Philip Tomasino (2) (Ben Kindel)
Second Period:
BUF: 3:53 - Tage Thompson (4) (Josh Norris); 7:42 - Jiri Kulich (1) (Alex Tuch, Jacob Bryson); 10:05 - Jason Zucker (2) PPG (Bowen Byram, Tage Thompson); 16:37 - Jiri Kulich (2) (Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs)
PIT: 13:53 - Harrison Brunicke (1) (Connor Dewar, Filip Hallander)
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 6:45 - Rickard Rakell (3) PPG (Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang); 13:54 - Sidney Crosby (2) PPG (Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 0:09 - Sidney Crosby (3) OT-GWG (Erik Karlsson)
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Three Stars of the Game:
1. Sidney Crosby - PIT
2. Rickard Rakell - PIT
3. Jiri Kulich - BUF
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What's Next:
The Sabres' regular-season home opener is on deck next Thursday night, October 9 against the New York Rangers. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the radio call.