Sabres Rout Penguins 6-2
BUFFALO (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins were looking for a four-point weekend, but the Buffalo Sabres had other ideas Sunday afternoon.
Derek Roy had two goals and Ryan Miller made 24 saves as the Sabres routed the Penguins 6-2.
It didn't take long for the Sabres to jump out to an early 1-0 lead.
Tyler Myers faked a shot and delivered a pass to Jason Pominville at the side of the net to Brent Johnson's left.
Johnson made the initial save as Pominville redirected the pass on goal, but no Penguin player was in the vicinity to clear the rebound. Pominville corralled it and chipped it over a prone Johnson to put Buffalo up 1-0 just 52 seconds into the game.
About three minutes later, another defensive breakdown resulted in the lead swelling to two goals.
Paul Martin attempted to step up at his own blue line to stop Roy, but was unable. Roy moved in 1-on-1 against Brooks Orpik and fired a backhander, which eluded Johnson.
The second period did not start any better as the Sabres quickly added to the lead.
Shortly after a penalty to Pascal Dupuis ended, Johnson made a save on Nathan Gerbe. However, Martin left his man alone to attempt to block Gerbe's shot. Paul Gaustad pounced on the rebound and flipped it over Johnson to put Buffalo up 3-0.
That goal would bring Johnson's day to a close as Marc-Andre Fleury came on to replace him. Johnson allowed three goals on 12 shots.
The goalie change seemed to breathe some life into the Penguins as they were finally able to get on the board.
Evgeni Malkin fed a pass across the blue line to Deryk Engelland, who ripped a one-timer by Miller to cut the lead to 3-1.
From there, Fleury stole the show in the period. He stoned Patrick Kaleta on a penalty shot and made a couple of highlight reel saves shortly after to keep the Penguins in the game.
The Penguins had their chances including a breakaway by Malkin and a 2-on-1 shorthanded break with Matt Cooke and Dupuis, but Miller came up with the saves.
The Penguins responded in the third period and made a game of it, for a time.
James Neal was cross-checked from behind into the boards, which put the Penguins on the power play.
Steve Sullivan faked a shot from the point and fed Neal along the boards. Neal threw it to the front of the net where Staal got just enough power on a shot to squeak through Miller's pads. The puck came to rest about an inch over the goal line to cut the lead to 3-2.
That's as close as the Penguins would get as Buffalo would respond about a minute later.
Drew Stafford pushed a one-timer wide of the net, but stayed with the play. He circled behind the net, picked up the loose puck and banked it off of an outstretched Fleury and into the net.
Later in the period, with the Penguins on the power play, Roy struck again.
Pominville found Roy streaking to the net and fired a beautiful pass through sticks and skates right onto Roy's tape. He made no mistake with it and put Buffalo up 5-2.
Later, Tyler Ennis capitalized on a fortunate bounce in front to cap the scoring in the game.
Pittsburgh will now return home to take on the New York Rangers Tuesday night at CONSOL Energy Center.
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