After a disappointing loss in the home opener, the Sabres rebounded to defeat the Penguins, who received their first regulation defeat (3-1-2) with a 3-2 loss.
Despite playing their 2nd game in as many nights, the Sabres were the ones to get on the board first.
Nathan Gerbe put the Sabres on the board with a backhander that went into the net along with Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. The play was reviewed as to whether or not the net was knocked off before the puck went in, but it was a good goal. Luke Adam and Christian Ehrhoff assisted on the play.
After a turnover in Pittsburgh’s zone, the Sabres capitalized when Thomas Vanek fed Luke Adam a perfect one-timer that beat Marc-Andre Fleury for a 2-0 Buffalo lead.
The Penguins got on the board on a goal that deflected off of Robyn Regehr’s stick and past Jhonas Enroth, cutting the Sabres lead in half. James Neal earned his league leading 5th goal of the season.
Drew Stafford gave the Sabres their two goal lead back with a wrist shot from a tough angle that beat Fleury. The goal was Stafford’s 200th career NHL point and was assisted by Nathan Gerbe, who fed him the drop pass.
Jordan Staal backhanded a rebound past Enroth with about five minutes left in the third, giving the Penguins some life and a chance to get that game-tying goal.
With less than a minute to go in the third, the Sabres were penalized for delay of game, which was just the third and final penalty in the game. Pittsburgh had chances, but were unable to beat Enroth.
Enroth stopped 30 of 32 shots and earned his first win of the season. At the other end, Fleury allowed three goals on 28 shots.
With the win, the Sabres improved to 3-1 on the season, winning all of their games away from the First Niagara Center. The Sabres remain 2nd in the Northeast Division due to Toronto’s 3-2 win over Calgary. Both teams have six points, but the Maple Leafs are a perfect 3-0 thus far.
The Sabres will head to Montreal for Tuesday’s game against the Canadiens, the 2nd game of a four game road trip for Buffalo.