Buffalo N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres dropped the first game of a two-night home-and-home against the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3 in overtime, on Friday night at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres outshot Pittsburgh in the opening period, 13-6, despite neither team being able to score. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had a pair of quality scoring chances in the slot, but both were stopped by Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.
Sabres goalie Craig Anderson's biggest saves came during the first penalty kill of the game. With Tyson Jost in the penalty box, Pittsburgh was able to put the puck on net. At one point, a pair of Sabres penalty killers broke their sticks, but the team was able to survive.
Pittsburgh was able to capitalize on a power play chance late in the second period to break the scoreless tie. Jake Guentzel was credited with his 13th goal of the season when he flipped the puck to the front of the net. The Penguins' first goal gave them a 1-0 lead over Buffalo with Casey Mittelstadt in the penalty box.
However, Mittelstadt assisted on each of the next two goals that helped the Sabres enjoy a 2-1 lead through two periods.
Victor Olofsson's 12th goal of the season came after tic-tac-toe passing from Mittelstadt to Jost, then to Olofsson.
Just over a minute later Mittelstadt's pass to Tage Thompson started a chance that was finished off by Jeff Skinner.
Once again, the Sabres led in shots on goal with 11 in the middle stanza compared to Pittsburgh's eight.
The Penguins tied the game early in the third period on Rickard Rickell's 11th goal of the season. The even strength goal came thanks to a Danton Heinen pass that tied the game, 2-2.
Brock McGinn scored with just 3:30 remaining in regulation to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead over Buffalo. Kasperi Kapanen and Jan Rutta assisted on the go-ahead goal.
Kyle Okposo's power play goal with 1:30 remaining in regulation tied the score at 3-3. Jack Quinn made the pass that helped set up the chance in the slot for the one-time goal. Mittelstadt added his third assist of the night on the goal, as well.
With less than a minute remaining in regulation, Skinner cross-checked Guentzel in the face after the whistle and was assessed a five-minute match penalty.
Pittsburgh was able to score in overtime with a 4-on-3 power play chance. Jeff Carter scored his fourth goal of the season for the game-winner, while Rakell and Malkin assisted 1:36 into the extra period.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 18:08 - Victor Olofsson (12) (Tyson Jost, Casey Mittelstadt); 19:15 - Jeff Skinner (13) (Tage Thompson, Casey Mittelstadt)
PIT: 15:36 - Jake Guentzel (13) PPG (Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Petry)
Third Period:
BUF: 18:30 - Kyle Okposo (2) PPG (Jack Quinn, Casey Mittelstadt)
PIT: 2:53 - Rickard Rakell (11) (Danton Heinen); 16:30 - Brock McGinn (8) (Kasperi Kapanen, Jan Rutta)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 1:36 - Jeff Carter (4) PPG (Rickard Rakell, Evgeni Malkin)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 16:40 - Tyson Jost (High sticking - 2 min.)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 7:03 - Jacob Bryson (Tripping - 2 min.); 14:20 - Casey Mittelstadt (Interference - 2 min.)
PIT: 8:55 - Jason Zucker (Hooking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 0:12 - Henri Jokiharju (High sticking - 2 min.); 19:38 - Jeff Skinner (Slashing - 2 min.); 19:38 - Jeff Skinner (Cross-checking - 5 min. match)
PIT: 4:15 - Pierre-Oliver Joseph (Tripping - 2 min.); 9:51 - Sidney Crosby (Tripping - 2 min.); 16:58 - Evgeni Malkin (Hooking - 2 min.); 19:38 - Jake Guentzel (Slashing - 2 min.)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jeff Carter - PIT
2.) Casey Mittelstadt - BUF
3.) Rickard Rakell - PIT
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What's next:
The same two teams will meet on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. EST with Brian Koziol.
