Buffalo Sabres win first against Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in two years -NHL Match Update
Pittsburgh was without a doubt the favourite team going into their first matchup of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season against Buffalo, but it was the other way around as Sabres beat the Penguins, 3-2, for the first time in two years,
Saturday night, October 15, at the sold-out CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
Penguins lost their second straight matchup of the season after coming out strong in their first two contests against Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames, but missing All-Star forward, Evgeni Malkin for the past three of four games, it seems Pittsburgh
has starting slacking off.
Awaiting the comeback of both of their star players, Malkin and Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh might just reach a whole new level.
"Obviously those guys are two of the best players in the League", Sabres goalie, Jhonas Enroth, said of the missing players. "They're going to be good when those guys get back".
Enroth was regarded as the winning player for his team. After facing 31 shots on his net and blocking 29 of them, it was not hard to see why.
"Jhonas kept us in the game the whole game long", Luke Adam said. "When your goalie is playing well, it gives the guys in front of him a lot of confidence. It's huge to come in here and take two points".
Nathan Gerbe and Luke Adam grabbed the first two goals for Buffalo and put them ahead to end the opening period, 2-0.
James Neal scored his fifth goal of the season early into the second period to finally put Pittsburgh on the board, but Drew Stafford goal nearly midway through the final period undermined Jordan Staal’s goal, which could have levelled it.
Changing possessions of the puck was what gave Buffalo the much needed advantage to keep control of the game.
"We had a couple of key turnovers forced by the forwards -- and a couple of quick goals", Adam said.
Buffalo Sabres continue their four-game road trip against Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, while Pittsburgh Penguins kick off their against Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
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