Buffalo Sabres rock and shock Pittsburgh Penguins with 6-2 win -NHL Update
Buffalo wowed everyone on Sunday night, February 19, 2012, as the Sabres rocked and shocked the Pittsburgh Penguins with a baffling, 6-2 victory, ending their four-game losing streak at the sold-out First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, United States.
Pittsburgh scrambled to change their goaltenders as they continuously failed to block the Buffalo shots. Brent Johnson started the match for the Penguins and failed to block three of 12 shots in the opening 22 minutes of game play while Marc-Andre Fleury
came in as a replacement, but did not do any better.
"Today we finished the deal," Buffalo coach, Lindy Ruff, said. "I think the answer was getting the fourth one right away. That was the answer. ... We just kept coming."
Jason Pominville and Derek Roy scored two straight to kick off the contest and set Pittsburgh straight in the opening five minutes while Paul Gaustad extended the lead to 3-0 at the 2:52 mark of the second period.
Deryk Engelland finally put Pittsburgh on the scoreboard with his third of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season while Jordan Staal brought Penguins within one of levelling the score with his power play goal at 5:05 in the third.
Despite Pittsburgh’s efforts, Buffalo just kept attacking as Drew Stafford widened the gap nearly a minute later while Derek Roy added his second of the night as the Sabres were shorthanded and Tyler Ennis capped off the match with another at 16:43.
"It was a letdown for our team," Penguins’ coach, Dan Bylsma, said. "We knew exactly what team we were playing and what they could do and how they were going to play. We didn't execute and play that way. And early on, we gave up good opportunities, which
they capitalised."
Buffalo still has a long way to go as they stand at number 14 in the Eastern Conference with 57 points and hope to continue with the momentum against New York Islanders at home on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Pittsburgh Penguins are currently safe at number six need and will have the next three at home, starting off with New York Rangers on Tuesday, to assess themselves heading into the playoffs.
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