Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550/WBEN) - Drew O'Connor led the way with two goals for Pittsburgh, as the Penguins cruised to a 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the preseason finale for both teams on Friday at KeyBank Center.
Pittsburgh got on the board early, as Sidney Crosby sent O'Connor in on a breakaway and beat Sabres goalie Devon Levi just 20 seconds into the game.
Midway through the first frame, Victor Olofsson buried his own rebound off a nice feed from JJ Peterka to tie the game at 1-1.
The goal scoring came early and often to start the second period, as the two teams scored six total goals during the middle frame.
Sabres' 2023 first-round pick Zach Benson kept his hot hand going this preseason as he gave the Sabres the lead early in the second.
JJ Peterka extended Buffalo's lead to 3-1 on the power play just three minutes later.
However, the Penguins struck back with four unanswered goals to close out the period to take a 5-3 lead heading into the intermission. Marcus Pettersson, Lars Eller and O'Connor all scored within a 2:14 span to give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead.
Then later in the period, Evgeni Malkin chipped home a power play goal with Henri Jokiharju in the box, making it 5-3, Penguins.
Just 1:33 into the third period, Jeff Carter extended the Penguins' lead to 6-3.
The Sabres cut into the deficit later in the third thanks to a beautiful backhand roofed under the bar from forward Casey Mittelstadt.
With less than five minutes remaining in regulation and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson in the box for interference, the Penguins re-gained their three-goal lead as Kris Letang scored on the power play to close out the scoring, 7-4.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 9:46 - Victor Olofsson (1) (JJ Peterka)
PIT: 0:20 - Drew O'Connor (3) (Sidney Crosby)
Second Period:
BUF: 2:06 - Zach Benson (4) (Jordan Greenway, Casey Mittelstadt), 5:08 - JJ Peterka (2) PPG (Victor Olofsson, Casey Mittelstadt)
PIT: 7:17 - Marcus Pettersson (1) (Rickard Rakell, Reilly Smith), 8:42 - Lars Eller (1) (Ryan Graves, Kris Letang), 9:31 - Drew O'Connor (4) (Bryan Rust, Ryan Graves)
Third Period:
BUF: 6:37 - Casey Mittelstadt (1) (Zach Benson, Owen Power)
PIT: 1:33 - Jeff Carter (1) (Noel Arcciari, Marcus Pettersson) 15:13 - Kris Letang (1) PPG (Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rickell)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 13:32 - Rasmus Dahlin (Delay of game - 2 min.)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 3:50 - Peyton Krebs (Fighting - 5 min.)
PIT: 3:50 - Sidney Crosby (Fighting - 5 min.); 3:50 - Sidney Crosby (Cross checking - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 14:06 - Mattias Samuelsson (Interference - 2 min.)
PIT: 2:35 - Rickard Rickell (Tripping - 2 min.); 8:12 - P.O. Joseph (Slashing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Drew O'Connor - PIT
2.) Casey Mittelstadt - BUF
3.) Marcus Pettersson - PIT
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What's next:
The Sabres will drop the puck on the 2023-24 regular season on Thursday when they welcome the New York Rangers to KeyBank Center for a 7 p.m. ET faceoff. Catch all of the action on the flagship home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550 - starting with pregame coverage at 6 p.m. ET with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog.