It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are a phenomenal hockey team, and the flexed their muscles in Buffalo on Saturday night.
Buffalo came out for their second game in two days looking physically outmatched and tired, against a Pittsburgh Penguins squad that came into tonight after having yesterday off.
In this game, it only took 1:21 for the Penguins to take a 1-0 lead, on Kris Letang’s 2nd goal of the season. Pittsburgh did not look back from there.
The Penguins would get on the score sheet a little over two minutes later, when Patric Hornqvist would score his 8th of the year, 0n the power play.
As the third period wound down, Pittsburgh would clearly continue to dominate play.
At 15:04 of the first, Kris Letang’s third of the season, Pittsburgh would increase their lead to 3-0.
Unfortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, the second period would bring no savior from the beatdown they were suffering.
“We were outclassed in every way tonight,” said Drew Stafford. “Some bad penalties. They took advantage of our d-zone. They were on for sure.”
Patric Hornqvist would score his 2nd of the game, 9th of the season, at 4:56. Pittsburgh led 4-0, at this point.
Things would finally calm down for most of the period, but Buffalo could not hold down the Penguins long enough.
Robert Bortuzzo scored his 1st goal of the season, at 14:01, to put Pittsburgh up 5-0.
Buffalo would not go down without a fight tonight. A perfectly screened Josh Gorges shot would be tipped in by Zemgus Girgensons, at 16:52. This was Girgensons’ 3rd goal of the season. Gorges would record his first point as a member of the Buffalo Sabres on this goal.
Just when it appeared that Buffalo had some momentum going their way, Pittsburgh would strike again.
Evgeni Malkin, at 19:15, scored his 6th goal of the season. This put Pittsburgh up 6-1.
Fortunately for the Buffalo Sabres, the beatdown would stop there. With a 6-1 lead in the third and final period, Pittsburgh appeared to take their foot off the gas pedal, coasting to a very easy road win.
“When you play a team like that you can’t play timid,” said Josh Gorges. “You can’t play on your heels. We gotta not be afraid to lose.”
For the Buffalo Sabres, this loss pushes them to 3-11-2 on the young season. Buffalo takes the ice again on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues, in St. Louis. That game will be broadcast nationally on NBCSN, with puck drop shortly after 8 pm.