Snap Shots: Sabres 4, Pens 3 (OT)
* The Pens deserved to win this game. From the moment the puck dropped they dominated play, titled possession time in their favor and overwhelmed Buffalo. Pittsburgh posted 20 shots alone in the opening period and 33 through 40 minutes, with countless high-quality scoring chances.
Pittsburgh went into a more defensive posture in the 3rd period and tried to protect the lead. Buffalo struck with 2:22 to tie the game and force overtime. Conor Sheary scored two, including the overtime winner, to deliver some heartbreak to his former team.
On the bright side, the Pens earned a crucial point in the standings. On the downside, Pittsburgh left a point on the table. What's worse, the Pens played well enough to win, and should have won. But that's hockey. Sometimes you lose a game you should have won. That was the case tonight. Hopefully at the end of the season it won't come into play as far as the playoffs.
* A major turning point in the game came in the final minutes of the second period when Buffalo's Scott Wilson - a former Penguin - caught Pittsburgh's Marcus Pettersson with a high stick. The play drew blood, and drew a 4-minute, double-minor penalty.
The Pens scored twice (Patric Hornqvist, Sidney Crosby) with that man-advantage in a 63-second span. Prior to the penalty the Sabres had a 2-1 lead. After the penalty, it was the Pens leading 3-2 with 1:39 remaining in the second frame.
* Marcus Pettersson had an interesting game. In the first period he committed an egregious turnover in the defensive zone, flipping the puck right to Jack Eichel in the circle. Eichel scored to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead.
But Pettersson more than made up for his error in the 3rd period with the Pens desperately clinging to a 3-2 lead and killing a penalty. The puck ricocheted off the end boards right to Jeff Skinner, owner of 36 goals. Skinner had an empty-net at which to shoot. But Pettersson came diving into the crease and blocked his shot with his outstretched stick to deny the game-tying goal.
Just another memorable Pettersson diving save in the crease.
* There's no hiding the fact that Crosby loves playing the Sabres. He's flourished in these games, especially in Buffalo. Whether it's beating three guys en route to a goal or splitting two defensemen and scoring with just one hand, Crosby has been known to make magic happen against Buffalo.
So it wasn't shocking to see him score another pretty goal against the Sabres. This time he scored on a one-timed shot from a nice pass by Evgeni Malkin through the Sabres' penalty killing box. But what made it beautiful was that the pass was a little behind Crosby, forcing him to go down on one knee and fall backwards on the follow through. Still, the puck ended up in the net.
Crosby added an assist for two points. He now has 59 career points (20G-39A) in 38 contests lifetime against Buffalo.
* Hornqvist's power-play goal was pure Hornqvist. He cut to the slot and was standing above the crease when defenseman Justin Schultz unleashed a shot. Hornqvist tipped it into the goal. It was his first goal since Jan. 6 against Chicago. Hornqvist snapped a 14-game pointless streak recently. Now he has a 3-game scoring streak.
It was also Hornqvist's 700th career NHL game. So a nice bonus for him.
* Nick Bjugstad scored his 8th goal of the season thanks to a fine defensive effort. While in the offensive zone, Bjugstad stripped Johan Larsson of the puck on the halfwall. From there, Bjugstad carried to the net and snapped home his goal.
* Erik Gudbranson made his Pens' debut. He is definitely noticeable on the ice at 6-foot-5. But it was a quiet night from him, which is what you want from a defenseman. That means he did his job.
