PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens got their fourth straight win breaking open a 2-2 tie for a 5-2 win at Buffalo. Jake Guentzel had the game-winner tying him with Sidney Crosby for most goals on the team.
"These aren't easy games to play in when there is such an expectation on the outside and inside to win," head coach Mike Sullivan said of playing the last place Sabres. "We just have to make sure we control what we can to give us the best chance to win."
Roll 300
Pens head coach Mike Sullivan got his 300th win becoming the 13th fastest to reach that milestone. Sullivan is the fourth American born coach to reach 300.
"It's a humbling honor," Sullivan said. "The players gave me a nice tribute after the game. I'm grateful to the players, especially here in Pittsburgh. It was nice to reach this milestone. Certainly I'm the benefactor of being able to coach some really good players."
"He's a great guy," Malkin said. "A great coach and it's not over. I hope he works a long time with the team. More wins for him."
Angello home goal
New York native Anthony Angello collected a puck on the move at center ice, carried it into the zone and sniped it by goalie Jonas Johansson, high glove side. It was just the second goal of his career and at an arena he came to as a kid, cheering for the Sabres.
"Playing in Buffalo is a little bit surreal, especially because this is close to home and these are the NHL games I came to," Angello said. "To finally play in the building was awesome. Scoring honestly was even more surreal, if that is even possible."
His dad wasn't able to come because Buffalo can't have fans until March 20.
"I'm sure they watched it on TV. I'm sure my dad had a tear in his eye."
Malkin scores
Evgeni Malkin scored for the seventh time this year as Kasperi Kapanen intercepted a pass at the blue line and worked in on Johansson. At the last second, he blindly passed to Malkin for the easy put away.
Malkin has goals in 3 of his last 4 games and points in 6 consecutive games.
Tanev scores
Teddy Blueger threw one up against the boards early in the second period right in stride to Brandon Tanev. The forward would go back and forth with the puck and bury it 5-hole off the backhand.
That's points in four straight games for Tanev and a first goal since February 25.
Fourth line finally
"I thought the fourth line had a really strong game tonight," Sullivan said. "They brought us a lot of energy. I thought they had some offensive zone time. They possessed the puck down low. They forced Buffalo to have to expend energy defending them. They helped us with momentum."
"I thought all three had a real good game tonight."
Malkin one-liners
Question-"Geno what is your relationship like with Kapanen off-the-ice? Have you guys become good friends since he joined the team?"
Answer-"I don't know. He speaks Finland. I don't understand."
Question-"You've seen Cup teams before, what is this team missing right now to become a Cup team again?"
Answer-"Maybe, Mario Lemieux"
Question-"What is it about playing Buffalo that gets you points?"
Answer-"I try to score against every team"
Marino out
Defenseman John Marino missed his first game of the season after missing practice Wednesday with what Sullivan called a maintenance day. It's a bit more now as Marino is suffering from an upper-body injury and is day-to-day.
Up Next
Pens play their second straight in Buffalo Saturday night at 7p
