Buffalo 4, Pittsburgh 2
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Referees:
Paul Devorski, Ian Walsh
Linesmen:
Scott Cherrey, Andy McElman
Attendance:
18630
By SportsDirect Inc.
Sabres 4, Penguins 2: Steve Ott scored a disputed game-winner with 2:34 remaining as visiting Buffalo prevailed in a game rescheduled from Saturday due to the manhunt associated with the Boston Marathon bombings.
Ott redirected a fluttering rebound past the left shoulder of Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury from point-blank range. A lengthy video review determined that Ott's stick was below the crossbar, allowing Buffalo to halt Pittsburgh's seven-game winning streak.
Thomas Vanek led the way with a pair of goals - including an empty-netter - while Jochen Hecht also scored and Ryan Miller made 40 saves. Chris Kunitz and Jarome Iginla tallied while Fleury stopped 29 shots for the Penguins, who have already secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Vanek opened the scoring with 7:11 remaining in the opening period, unleashing a one-timer from the high slot that beat Fleury. Kunitz responded 20 seconds later with a wrist shot from the left side that caromed off Miller's glove and in for his 22nd goal.
The Sabres regained the lead 6:11 into the third period as Hecht jumped on a loose puck at the top of the left circle and blasted a shot over Fleury's glove. Pittsburgh responded with the man advantage less than five minutes later, with Iginla one-timing a short pass from Letang past a screened Miller.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The game was moved to accommodate the rescheduling of a Penguins-Bruins game from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. ... Buffalo ended Pittsburgh's 15-game winning streak with a 4-1 triumph on April 2. ... Already dealing with injuries to Fs Sidney Crosby (jaw) and James Neal (concussion) and D Paul Martin (hand), the Penguins lost D Brooks Orpik to a lower-body injury. ... Vanek reached the 20-goal plateau for the eighth consecutive season.
Top Game Performances
Buffalo |
|
Pittsburgh |
Thomas Vanek 3 |
Points |
Jarome Iginla 1 |
Thomas Vanek 2 |
Goals |
Jarome Iginla 1 |
Cody Hodgson 2 |
Assists |
Matt Cooke 1 |
N/A |
Power Play Goals |
Jarome Iginla 1 |
N/A |
Short Handed Goals |
N/A |
Ryan Miller .952 |
Save Percentage |
Marc-Andre Fleury .906 |
Ryan Miller 40 |
Saves |
Marc-Andre Fleury 29 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Shots |
Goals |
Power Play |
Penalty Kill |
Penalty Mins |
Face Offs Won |
Buffalo
|
33 |
4 |
0-0 |
2-3 |
18 |
22 |
Pittsburgh
|
42 |
2 |
1-3 |
0-0 |
2 |
34 |
Upcoming Games
-
Pittsburgh will play their next game on the road against New Jersey. The Penguins have a W/L % of .800 after a win and .600 after a loss.
-
Buffalo will play their next game at home against NY Islanders. The Sabres have a W/L % of .526 after a win and .333 after a loss.