Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Back on Oct. 16 in Pittsburgh, the Buffalo Sabres started the habit of blowing leads. Buffalo had a 2-0 and 3-1 first period lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins, only to lose in overtime on a Sidney Crosby overtime goal, 6-5.
After chasing Tristan Jarry with three goals on five shots, the Pens used it as motivation, scoring three-consecutive goals to take a 4-3 lead. This isn’t a typical Buffalo collapse, because the team got up off the mat in the third period with goals 40 seconds apart by JJ Peterka and Ryan McLeod.
Buffalo held that 5-4 lead until Pittsburgh pulled its goalie, and it revealed the 6-on-5 problems this team has faced throughout the season. Rickard Rakell tied the game with 46 seconds left.
The Sabres' penalty problems reared its ugly head, as Tage Thompson took a tripping penalty 43 seconds into overtime. Crosby then ended it shortly after with his 29th goal and 85th point in 60 games against the Sabres.
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The Sabres recovered from an embarrassing loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday to beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, on Wednesday.
Buffalo has won 3-of-4 games, but are still in last place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the New York Islanders.
This is another four-point game for Buffalo, because Pittsburgh is five points ahead of the Sabres. Buffalo needs to win in regulation, and not give the Penguins any points.
McLeod had a hat-trick against the Canes, giving him four goals and six points in his last three games.
Buffalo is 5-2-3 in its last 10 games against the Penguins.
Peterka isn’t scoring goals, but he does have points lately. The winger has two goals and 12 assists for 14 points in his last 14 games.
In his last 11 games, Jason Zucker has seven goals and five assists for 12 points.
These are two teams that aren’t very good at keeping the puck out of the net. Buffalo ranks 27th with a 3.34 goals-against average, while Pittsburgh is dead last at 3.67.
The Sabres' power play success has come to a screeching halt, going 1-for-11 recently.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played 9-of-10 games for the Sabres. He didn’t give up any goals against the Ottawa Senators, then allowed five against the Kraken, and then just two on 37 shots against Carolina.
Overall, he’s 14-13-4 this season with a 2.99 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
Pittsburgh is falling fast with eight losses in nine games. In their last three games, they’ve been outscored 14-4.
With Jarry going on waivers, the Penguins' tandem is now Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist.
Nedeljkovic is 7-7-4 this season with a 3.40 goals-against average and an .886 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Blomqvist is 3-5-0 this season at the NHL level with a 3.60 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.
Crosby leads the way offensively for Pittsburgh with 12 goals and 36 assists for 48 points in 46 games.
Tune in during "Schopp and the Bulldog" for pregame coverage on WGR starting at 6 p.m. when you’ll hear from Lindy Ruff, McLeod and Peyton Krebs.