For the first time since the 2012-13 season, the Buffalo Sabres came out with a win in their season opener.
The Sabres kept the Pittsburgh Penguins quiet for most of Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, coming into town and emerging with an eye-opening 3-1 win.
Buffalo seized control early in the opening period of the season, jumping out to a massive shot advantage of 14-3. The Sabres were rewarded on one of those early shots just 5:23 into the campaign as former Penguins forward Conor Sheary scored, yet, another goal against his former team off a feed from Casey Mittelstadt. Sheary beat Pittsburgh netminder Matt Murray far-side from the right wing circle for his fifth point and third goal in four career games against the Penguins.
Carter Hutton looked sharp from the get-go for Buffalo, and was tested 13 times in the opening 20 minutes. Most of those shots came during a Pittsburgh power play when Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka sat two minutes for closing his hand on the puck. The penalty killing units for Buffalo were able to stymie Pittsburgh's elite weapons on the man advantage, and were even able to spring Zemgus Girgensons for a breakaway off a turnover. Girgensons was stuffed by Murray on the opportunity, as the veteran goaltender shooed Girgensons' backhand shot away with his left pad.
The Penguins picked up the pace of their play in the early minutes of the second period, and were rewarded for it after they drew a power play opportunity. After Mittelstadt was sent to the penalty box for a holding minor, Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin beat Hutton on the man advantage with help from Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby to tie the score at 1-1 just 5:50 into the period.
Around the halfway mark of the period, Buffalo went to work on consecutive power plays, capitalizing on their second one. Once again, it was Sheary who found the back of the netfor his second goal of the night past Murray.
The score marked Sheary's second-career two-goal game against the Penguins. Mittelstadt was there for another assist, as was defenseman Colin Miller, who picked up his first point as a Sabre after coming over in an offseason trade from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Buffalo struck once more before the period was over as Sam Reinhart sprung Rasmus Dahlin into the Penguins zone with 44-seconds remaining in the middle stanza, and the second-year defenseman scored one of the highlight goals of his young career:
RASMUS DAHLIN. -- #Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/8tQHel60A5
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 4, 2019Other than three Buffalo penalties in the final period of play, the Sabres were able to relatively cruise to the 3-1 victory.
Hutton made 28 saves on 29 shots in net, while head coach Ralph Krueger also tallied his first victory as head coach of the Sabres; starting 1-0 in his reincarnated NHL coaching career.
GAME SUMMARY
Goal Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 5:23 - Conor Sheary (1) (Casey Mittelstadt)PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 14:03 - Conor Sheary (2) PPG (Casey Mittelstadt, Colin Miller); 19:16 - Rasmus Dahlin (1) (Sam Reinhart, Victor Olofsson)PIT: 5:50 - Evgeni Malkin (1) PPG (Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby)
Third Period:
BUF: NONEPIT: NONE
Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 14:40 - Vladimir Sobotka (Closing hand on puck - 2 min.)PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 5:24 - Casey Mittelstadt (Holding - 2 min.)PIT: 9:58 - Marcus Pettersson (High-sticking - 2 min.); 12:29 - Brian Dumoulin (Holding - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 5:28 - Zemgus Girgensons (Interference - 2 min.); 8:46 - Colin Miller (Holding - 2 min.); 17:39 - Rasmus Ristolainen (High-sticking - 2 min.)PIT: NONE
Shots on Goal:
BUF: 41 (17, 13, 11)PIT: 29 (13, 5, 11)
Goalies:
BUF: Carter Hutton - 28 savesPIT: Matt Murray - 38 saves
Power Plays:
BUF: 1 for 2 (50%)PIT: 1 for 5 (20%)
Three Stars:
1.) Conor Sheary (BUF)2.) Casey Mittelstadt (BUF)3.) Evgeni Malkin (PIT)
What's Next:
The Sabres head back to Buffalo to kick off the home portion of their 2019-20 season on Saturday, October 5 against the New Jersey Devils at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. with the team also holding a "Party in the Plaza" ahead of puck drop, where they plan to highlight many team captains of the Sabres' past. If you can't make it to the arena, join Brian Koziol and company for pre-game coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m.
