Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres opened the 2024 preseason on Saturday night with a big 7-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.
JJ Peterka lead the way for the Sabres with a hat-trick in the victory.
With Tage Thompson off for an early tripping penalty just 28 seconds into the game, the Penguins took an early 1-0 lead with a goal from winger Jesse Puljujarvi at the 1:08 mark.
The Sabres evened the score just moments later with a power play goal of their own, as Peterka re-directs a point shot from Jack Quinn.
The Sabres began the second period with a fury of goals, scoring five times in just a 5:26 span.
It was Peterka getting things rolling just 46 into the period for his goal second of the night.
Then it was Owen Power ripping a shot from the point to extend the Buffalo lead to 3-1.
Exactly one minute later, fellow defenseman Henri Jokiharju snapped a wrister home from the slot to make it a 4-1 Sabres lead.
Three of the newest Sabres connected for the fifth Buffalo goal of the game, as Sam Lafferty chipped in a rebound after a Beck Malenstyn shot on goal.
Peterka completed the scoring spree with his hat-trick goal, giving the Sabres a 6-1 lead over the Penguins after two periods of play.
Buffalo did not let up to start the third period with Dylan Cozens getting in on the scoring, just 3:42 into the final frame.
The Penguins got back on the scoresheet after the Buffalo onslaught, as Puljujarvi scored on the power play for his second of the night, making it 7-2.
Less than a minute later, it was Puljujarvi netting a hat-trick as well to cut the Sabres lead to 7-3 midway through the third.
The scoring finally slowed down after that, and the Sabres were able to coast to a 7-3 victory at KeyBank Center.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen ended up with 15 saves on 18 shots faced in the win.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 3:25 - JJ Peterka (1) PPG (Jack Quinn, Henri Jokiharju)
PIT: 1:08 - Jesse Puljujarvi (1) PPG (Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz)
Second Period:
BUF: 0:46 - JJ Peterka (2) (Alex Tuch, Henri Jokiharju); 2:28 - Owen Power (1) (Bowen Byram, Jiri Kulich); 3:29 - Henri Jokiharju (1) (Dylan Cozens, Zach Benson); 4:20 - Sam Lafferty (1) (Beck Malenstyn, Nicolas Aube-Kubel); 5:26 - JJ Peterka (3) (Tage Thompson, Owen Power)
PIT: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 3:42 - Dylan Cozens (1) (Unassisted)
PIT: 8:33 - Jesse Puljujarvi (2) PPG (Rutger McGroarity, Drew O'Connor); 8:52 - Jesse Puljujarvi (3) (Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz)
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Losi & Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) JJ Peterka - BUF
2.) Henri Jokiharju - BUF
3.) Sam Lafferty - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets to KeyBank Center on Monday night for a 5 p.m. ET faceoff. Catch all of the action on our sister station, The Bet 1520 with Brian Koziol and Paul Hamilton.