The Buffalo Sabres capped-off the 2019 preseason with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena in the Steel City.
Saturday's win was good for the team's second consecutive extra-time victory and third-straight win overall.
A pair of Penguins goals from Patric Hornqvist and Bryan Rust, that came about a minute apart, put the Sabres in a 2-0 hole midway through the second period. About 90-seconds later, Marco Scandella got the Sabres on the board when he beat Pittsburgh's goaltender Matt Murray with a slap shot. Henri Jokiharju and Curtis Lazar picked up assists on the Scandella goal.
Buffalo got a late power play in the second period thanks to a boarding call on Pittsburgh's Brandon Tanev, but were unable to capitalize. The Sabres finished the afternoon 0-for-6 on the power play. Pittsburgh also put up a goose egg on the man advantage as well, going 0-for-4 on the afternoon.
Zemgus Girgensons managed to put the puck in the net after getting a pass from John Gilmour to tie the game at 2-2 with 8:33 left in regulation.
The Sabres and Penguins traded chances back-and-forth throughout the rest of the third period and overtime, but due to some solid goaltending from both Linus Ullmark and Murray, the score remained tied after 65 minutes of play. Ullmark finished the game with 36 saves on 38 shots faced.
The Penguins opted to shoot first in the shootout, and defenseman Kris Letang scored the first goal in the second round of attempts. Sabres forward Tage Thompson kept the shootout going as he responded right away with a goal to even the score at 1-1. Three scoreless rounds would go by until after a miss from Dominik Kahun in the top of the sixth round, Casey Mittelstadt put home a backhand to end the contest and send the Sabres home with a victory.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONEPIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 11:03 - Marco Scandella (1) (Henri Jokiharju, Curtis Lazar)PIT: 8:35 - Patric Hornqvist (1) (Nick Bjugstad, Justin Schultz); 9:34 - Bryan Rust (2) (Zach Aston-Reese, Justin Schultz)
Third Period:
BUF: 11:27 - Zemgus Girgensons (1) (John Gilmour)PIT: NONE
Overtime:
BUF: NONEPIT: NONE
Shootout:
PIT: Evgeni Malkin - MissBUF: Kyle Okposo - MissPIT: Kris Letang - GOALBUF: Tage Thompson - GOALPIT: Jake Guentzel - MissBUF: Jimmy Vesey - MissPIT: Nick Bjugstad - MissBUF: Rasmus Asplund - MissPIT: Jared McCann - MissBUF: John Gilmour - MissPIT: Dominik Kahun - MissBUF: Casey Mittelstadt - GOAL
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 12:03 - Henri Jokiharju (Embellishment – 2 min.); 13:28 - Rasmus Dahlin (Interference - 2 min.) PIT: 10:45 - Marcus Pettersson (Holding - 2 min.); 12:03 - Brian Dumoulin (Interference - 2 min.); 19:09 - Patric Hornqvist (Hooking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 11:41 - Casey Nelson (High-sticking - 2 min.)PIT: 18:47 - Brandon Tanev (Boarding - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 5:32 - Johan Larsson (Slashing - 2 min.)PIT: 13:52 - Marcus Pettersson (Tripping - 2 min.); 14:20 - John Marino (Delay of Game - 2 min.)
Overtime:
BUF: 3:26 - Vladimir Sobotka (Interference - 2 min.)PIT: 0:33 - Evgeni Malkin (Interference - 2 min.)
Shots on Goal:
BUF: 30 (7, 12, 10, 1)PIT: 38 (8, 12, 15, 3)
Goalies:
BUF: Linus Ullmark - 36 saves PIT: Matt Murray - 28 saves
Power Plays:
BUF: 0 for 6 (0%)PIT: 0 for 4 (0%)
Three Stars:
1. Justin Schultz - PIT2. Casey Mittelstadt - BUF3. Zemgus Girgensons - BUF
What's Next:
The Sabres will be back in Pittsburgh on Thursday night to open the regular season against the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Coverage on the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network – WGR Sports Radio 550 – will begin at 6 p.m. with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
