The Buffalo Sabres traveled to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night to take on the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. It was the first game for the blue and gold since a heartbreaking, last-second loss at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
Though heavily outplayed in most offensive aspects of the game, the Sabres escaped Pittsburgh's hard-charging third period thanks to a performance for the ages from Dustin Tokarski in a 2-1 win.
After a scoreless opening period of play, the Sabres found the game's first goal very early in the second frame. Defenseman Colin Miller wired a slap shot from the blue line past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. Miller's goal came with help from Drake Caggiula and Dylan Cozens.
The Sabres extended their lead to 2-0 later in the middle period when Zemgus Girgensons located Kyle Okposo waiting with his stick on the ice in front of Jarry. Girgensons flipped a saucer pass in front of Okposo, who re-directed the puck in behind the Penguins netminder.
Pittsburgh attacked hard to start the third period of play, throwing a handful of high-danger chances Tokarski's way, many of which shorthanded.
Six minutes in, the home side was able to break through on a power play of their own. It was forward Jake Guentzel scoring his fifth goal of the season, with help from forwards Bryan Rust and noted "Sabres killer" Sidney Crosby.
That would be all the Penguins were able to muster against Tokarski, despite turning up the heat in a big way in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Though Pittsburgh got their goal, Tokarski stopped the other 19 shots in the third period en route to a 45-save performance in enemy territory.
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GAME SUMMARY
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 0:28 - Colin Miller (2) (Drake Caggiula, Dylan Cozens); 8:54 - Kyle Okposo (4) (Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Dahlin)
PIT: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: NONE
PIT: 5:59 - Jake Guentzel (5) PPG (Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 9:13 - Jacob Bryson (Interference - 2 min.)
PIT: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 12:14 - Cody Eakin (Slashing - 2 min.); 18:28 - Mark Pysyk (Tripping - 2 min.)
PIT: 3:14 - Danton Heinen (High-sticking - 2 min.); 19:28 - Bryan Rust (Holding - 2 min.)
Third Period
BUF: 5:10 - Anders Bjork (Hooking - 2 min.); 11:47 - Robert Hagg (Fighting - 5 min.)
PIT: 2:30 - Marcus Petterson (Interference - 2 min.); 11:47 - Zach Aston-Reese (Roughing - 2 min.); 11:47 - Zach Aston-Reese (Fighting - 5 min.); 18:24 - Kris Letang (Slashing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Dustin Tokarski - BUF
2.) Colin Miller - BUF
3.) Jake Guentzel - PIT
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What's Next:
The Sabres return to Buffalo to host the Calgary Flames on Thursday, Nov. 18 at KeyBank Center. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. EST with Sabres pregame coverage starting at 6 p.m. EST with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.
