Pittsburgh, Pa. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Sabres fell flat on Wednesday evening in Pittsburgh, as Buffalo was doubled up at PPG Paints Arena by a final score of 4-2.
The first 17 minutes of the game was the equivalent of dragging a stick through some mud - five total shots between the two sides, struggling to get their bearings on the offensive.
Things changed, though, after a neutral zone turnover from Conor Timmins.
Penguins defenseman Mathew Dumba was the beneficiary of the giveaway, and he wristed home his first goal of the season to make it 1-0, Pittsburgh. His shot went off a Sabres body as it made its way to the net.
After a scoreless middle stanza, things opened up in the third period of play with five total goals being netted in the 20-minute interval. Unfortunately, three goals belonged to the Penguins, who were able to keep a stranglehold on the end decision.
The Sabres evened the score with 7:20 gone in the third period thanks to a goal from Jack Quinn, who let go of a shot from the off wing that beat Tristan Jarry in the Pittsburgh net.
Just 31 seconds later, though, Pittsburgh regained its lead after Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen lost his stick went scrambling around his crease. Eventually, winger Bryan Rust threw a shot on goal that went through the five-hole of Luukkonen.
Less than five minutes later, the Penguins extended their lead to 3-1 as center Kevin Hayes went to the net and tapped a pass from defenseman Erik Karlsson past Luukkonen.
Quinn gave the Sabres some life with 4:18 to go in regulation, as he netted his second goal of the period to cut the Buffalo deficit to one.
However, with 58 seconds remaining, forward Connor Dewar salted the game away with an empty-net goal to put an end to any comeback hope for the Sabres.
----------
SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 17:09 - Mathew Dumba (1) (Unassisted)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 7:20 - Jack Quinn (6) (Ryan McLeod, Bowen Byram); 15:40 - Jack Quinn (7) (Jason Zucker, Mattias Samuelsson)
PIT: 7:51 - Bryan Rust (6) (Ryan Shea); 12:34 - Kevin Hayes (1) (Erik Karlsson, Parker Wotherspoon); 19:02 - Connor Dewar (5) ENG (Unassisted)
----------
----------
Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Kevin Hayes - PIT
2.) Jack Quinn - BUF
3.) Tristan Jarry - PIT
----------
What's next:
The Sabres return home to host the New Jersey Devils on Friday afternoon for a 4 p.m. faceoff at KeyBank Center. Be sure to catch all the action on WGR Sports Radio 550 with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.