The Buffalo Sabres were forced into a shootout to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, on Wednesday night at KeyBank Center. It was Tage Thompson helping carry to Buffalo to victory once again, as he scored twice in regulation and netted the game-winning goal in the shootout.
Prior to the start of the game, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson was recognized by the organization for recording his 300th win in the team's last home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Thompson wired a wrist shot into the top corner of the net to beat Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith and give the Sabres a 1-0 lead with less than three minutes to go in the opening period. The forward's 26th goal of the season was setup by a pass from defenseman Mattias Saumelsson below the goal line.
Buffalo had a pair of power play chances, but failed to score on either. However, they outshot Pittsburgh, 11-8, in the opening 20 minutes. The Penguins' lone power play came with just over a minute to go in the frame when Buffalo was caught with too many men on the ice.
Sidney Crosby scored on the power play 26 seconds into the middle period to tie the game, 1-1. His 23rd goal of the season was assisted by Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel. The score came with the time remaining on Buffalo's too many men on the ice minor from the first period.
Zemgus Girgensons restored Buffalo's one-goal lead with his eighth goal of the season. The forward received a Kyle Okposo pass in the slot after creating a turnover below the goal line. The score with just over four minutes remaining in the second period made the score 2-1.
The lead was short-lived, though, thanks to a fortuitous bounce for Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin backhanded a puck to the front of the net from below the goal line, and it deflected off Anderson and Henri Jokiharu for his 13th goal of the year. That tied the game at 2-2 with just over a minute remaining in the middle frame.
Thompson's second goal of the game came just over a minute into the third period. Buffalo's power play had just expired after the forward made it 3-2 in favor of the Sabres. Alex Tuch and Jeff Skinner each received assists on the goal.
Pittsburgh's second power play goal of the night tied the game at 3-3 with under five minutes remaining in the third period. Kris Letang scored his seventh goal of the year when he came down into the slot and unleashed a wrist shot on net.
Buffalo was able to end regulation time all even on the scoreboard for a third-consecutive game. This time, however, neither team was able to break the tie in the five extra minutes of 3-on-3 play.
In the shootout, Thompson led things off for Buffalo with a goal over the glove hand of DeSmith, firing a quick wrist shot past the Pittsburgh netminder.
In the third round of shooters, Tuch was able to put the game away when he lifted a wrist shot over DeSmith to help Buffalo to a third-straight win. It is the first win streak of three or more games for the Sabres since a three-game win streak to open the 2021-22 season.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 17:15 - Tage Thompson (26) (Mattias Samuelsson)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 15:56 - Zemgus Girgensons (8) (Kyle Okposo)
PIT: 0:26 - Sidney Crosby (23) PPG (Bryan Rust, Jake Guentzel); 18:46 - Evgeni Malkin (13) (Bryan Rust)
Third Period:
BUF: 1:01 - Tage Thompson (27) (Alex Tuch, Jeff Skinner)
PIT: 15:04 - Kris Letang (7) PPG (Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby)
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
Shootout:
BUF: Tage Thompson - GOAL
PIT: Bryan Rust - Save
BUF: Casey Mittelstadt - Save
PIT: Sidney Crosby - Save
BUF: Alex Tuch - GOAL
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 18:43 - Team (Too many men on the ice - 2 min.)
PIT: 11:01 - Chad Ruhwedel (Tripping - 2 min.); 14:27 - Kasperi Kapanen (Tripping - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 18:55 - Jake Guentzel (Tripping - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 13:51 - Vinnie Hinostroza (Holding - 2 min.)
PIT: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Mattias Samuelsson - BUF
3.) Zemgus Girgensons - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres remain home for a Friday night matchup with the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. ET with Schopp and the Bulldog.
