Pittsburgh, Pa. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres are undefeated through two games in 2024, and have outscored their opponents 9-2 in the process.
For the first time in over two calendar months, the blue and gold bunched consecutive wins together thanks to their 3-1 win on Saturday night over the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
The Sabres opened the scoring less than three minutes into the affair. Connor Clifton showed off some great awareness, and fired a great lead pass to spring Alex Tuch behind the Penguins defense for his 10th of the season.
The Penguins scored two goals following Tuch's tally, but both scoring plays came off the board after successful challenges by the Sabres' coaching and video staff.
The first goal off the board was brought back on an offside after Penguins captain Sidney Crosby entered the Buffalo zone just a touch ahead of the puck. Pittsburgh forward Drew O'Connor was denied a game-tying goal.
Then with about 90 seconds left in the frame, forward Jake Guentzel's deflection goal in front of Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was taken off the scoresheet thanks to the presence of goaltender interference.
After a scoreless second period, Pittsburgh found the equalizer in the third period.
After Buffalo was called for dueling minor penalties, which offered the Penguins a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play, forward Rickard Rakell tipped-in his fourth goal of the season with eight seconds remaining in the advantage.
The Sabres had a strong response to an early-period push from the Penguins, and found the go-ahead tally from their fourth line.
At the end of a great shift in the offensive zone, Zemgus Girgensons was able to backhand a second chance opportunity in front of the Penguins net with just about four minutes remaining in regulation.
For a second-straight game, Sabres' All-Star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin put the icing on a 2024 win with a long-distance goal from deep in his own end.
This time didn't technically go down as an empty-netter, though, as Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry had not completely vacated the ice. Nevertheless, Dahlin added to his NHL-leading total for goals by defenseman with his 12th of the campaign.
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SCORING RECAP:
First Period:
BUF: 2:53 - Alex Tuch (10) (Connor Clifton, Tage Thompson)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 15:22 - Zemgus Girgensons (3) (Eric Robinson, Mattias Samuelsson); 18:24 - Rasmus Dahlin (12) (Unassisted)
PIT: 7:49 - Rickard Rakell (4) PPG (Erik Karlsson, Evgeni Malkin)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - BUF
2.) Zemgus Girgensons - BUF
3.) Rickard Rakell - PIT
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What's next:
The blue and gold return home to host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday to kick off a six-game homestand at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.