PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens forward Kasperi Kapanen scored with an extra attacker to tie the game with 53 seconds left and then scored in the shootout as the Pens came back to beat Buffalo 5-4 in exhibition play. Jason Zucker finally ended it in the ninth round of the shootout.
Undrafted forward Drew O'Connor scored the first two Pens goals, followed by center Radim Zohorna. O'Connor played in 10 games his rookie season in 2020 after making the Pens out of camp.
"It's always good to be able to contribute offensively," O'Connor said. "I think being reliable defensively, whether it's a center or wing, just playing really strong. That's kind of the biggest thing. Find ways to contribute."
O'Connor said he's adjusting to playing center for the first time.
Zohorna is back to center where he played in the minors after two goals and two assists in eight games with the Pens as a winger in 2020. The 6' 6", 25-year-old scored on a beautiful feed by Kapanen.
"Unbelievable pass," Zohorna said. "I was just trying to shove the puck in the net. It was empty net, easy."
Zohorna had to battle back from the flu during this camp and trying to find a spot for himself on the final 23.
"I want to improve my speed and score goals," Zohorna said. "Do everything I can."
"The thing that is intriguing about Z for us," said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. "For a guy that is as big as he is, he has real good instincts. He has good hands. He has play making ability. He's strong on the puck. He utilizes his reach really well to protect pucks. It's hard for defenders to get to him. He can use his frame and his reach to protect pucks and he makes plays off of it. We would like to see it evolve here."
Friendly fire
Sullivan had to get a couple of stitches after taking an errant puck off his forehead in the third period.
"It was a fast puck," Sullivan said. "I couldn't move quick enough. I caught it out of the corner of my eye at the last minute and just reacted. I couldn't move quick enough."
DeSmith effort
Pens back-up goalie Casey DeSmith played the entire game, stopping 23 of 27 shots.
"I thought Casey fought hard tonight," Sullivan said. "There was a lot of traffic. That's an area of detail we have to get better and make sure we make it as easy as possible for our goaltender."
"I thought he made a few timely saves. I also thought there was another level to Casey's game."
Hallander longshot
Trying to make the Pens after returning this summer, forward Filip Hallander had an assist Tuesday night as he tries to find a way to stick in the NHL.
Hallander was a Pens second round pick in 2018 and attended camp in 2019. Then traded to Toronto in 2020 to get Kapanen back and now back himself. The 21-year-old played on a couple of Swedish national teams and said this is a big opportunity for him. He admitted before the game he was nervous.
"I'm just happy to be back to play," Hallander said. "I'm looking for the opportunity to show my skills."
"It's hard to assess guys in practice," Sullivan said, admitting injury has robbed Hallander of opportunities. "There's aspects to Filip's game that jump out at us."
"He's pretty good in the battle areas. He goes to the net. I think he has a little bit of edge to his game which is a competitive advantage for him."
Up Next
Pens play their last two exhibition games on the road before opening at Tampa Bay, October 12.
