Fitzgerald, Subban have memorable outings in SO loss to Pittsburgh

Malcolm Subban made a career-high 45 saves against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, one of which left the hockey world collectively asking: What just happened?
Count Subban among the many who were wondering how he managed to stop an Evan Rodrigues shot that found its way behind his back but not past the goal line. The goaltender contorted his left arm - opposite the shooter - behind his body as if he had a slinky for a shoulder.
The puck hit the back side of Subban's glove just above the goal line, prompting a lengthy video review at the next whistle. While officials scoured whatever angles they could, Subban skated to the Buffalo bench for a chat with fellow goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

"[Luukkonen] asked if I got that with my glove," Subban recalled afterward. "I was like, 'Oh, I don't know, maybe it hit the post and hit my glove.' I didn't know what happened, and then I saw the replay and it was a pretty lucky save."

We could go in several directions to start the summation of the Sabres' 3-2 shootout loss to the Penguins, which extended their point streak to four games at 2-0-2. It would be fair to lead with the big picture of a tired team clawing out a point to conclude its best road trip of the season, or with the memorable and at times loud debut of defenseman Casey Fitzgerald.
We will cover all of that. But first, a word on the goaltender whose performance encompassed far more than one behind-the-back save. Subban had nearly two weeks to think about this game, having waited since he sustained an injury during his Sabres debut in Raleigh on Dec. 4.
Subban joined the Sabres in a deal with the Blackhawks two days prior to that game, eager for a chance to reclaim a spot in the NHL after opening the year with AHL Rockford. He allowed six goals on 25 shots before sustaining his injury during the third period.
Sabres coach Don Granato said after the loss to the Hurricanes that the team had not done enough to support Subban. That changed against the Penguins. While the volume of shots against was high, the Sabres worked to keep them to the outside and limit second chances.
Subban did his share of the job, particularly during a 21-shot first period that ended with the Sabres trailing 1-0.
"Subby was great in net," Granato said. "Big players step up and Subby stepped up early for us and gave us that opportunity to keep pushing though the game."

It was another positive outing for the Sabres in goal, coming on the heels of five straight starts from Luukkonen in which the 22-year-old posted a .939 save percentage. Dustin Tokarski, who entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Dec. 2, has resumed skating in Buffalo but no timetable has been set regarding his potential return to game action.
The Sabres could have a decision on their hands when that time comes. In the meantime, Subban was happy to make the most of an opportunity.
"It definitely felt a lot better than Carolina, for sure," Subban said. "You obviously want two points, but it's a hell of a road trip."

Rounding up the road trip

Granato said the Sabres arrived in Pittsburgh around 3 a.m. Friday following their shootout win in St. Paul. Awaiting them was a Penguins team on three days' rest and riding a five-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh went for the kill during its 21-shot opening period, earning the first goal on a slap shot from Rodrigues. Brock McGinn doubled the lead at 6:45 of the second.
But the Sabres hung around and chipped away, beginning when Zemgus Girgensons buried a rebound ahead of the second intermission. Rasmus Dahlin drove low in the offensive zone for the tying goal with 5:18 remaining in regulation, the product of a seeing-eye feed from Rasmus Asplund.

"You arrive in a city like this, and a team like that in a building like this, and you can pretty much know they want to try to make a statement and push hard right away, hoping you quit," Granato said. "And that was not the case. It actually motivated our guys even more."

Jeff Carter scored the winning goal in overtime to keep the Sabres from earning the extra point, but the one point they did leave with was a testament to their work. They finish their three-game road trip having earned five of six possible points.
"There's a lot of resiliency in this team, you can tell, just from everyone around me," Fitzgerald said. "Just everyone's trying to amp their game every night no matter what the circumstances are. There's no excuses with these guys and that's a fun team to go to battle with."

Fitzgerald debuts in front of family

Fitzgerald introduced himself in a big way at the 2019 Prospects Challenge, ahead of his first pro season with Rochester. The defenseman fought then-Penguins prospect Anthony Angello during one of the exhibition games, unleashing a vicious sting of hooks and uppercuts in a lopsided bout.
He said afterward that it had been his second fight ever and recounted a postgame conversation with his father, New Jersey general manager and former NHL forward Tom Fitzgerald.
"He said, 'You didn't get that from me, you got that from your mother,'" Casey said.
Fast forward two years and seven AHL fights later, and Fitzgerald's mom and dad were in the building watching their son fight Penguins forward Sam Lafferty during the second period of his NHL debut. Their reactions were caught on the broadcast.

The fight was an immediate response to a hit by Lafferty on Vinnie Hinostroza.
"I didn't really like the hit, it was a little bit leg on leg," Fitzgerald said. "Vinnie's a guy who, he's got a big motor and he's always going. I know he'd do the same for me, just like anyone else on this team. It's one thing I think in Rochester that they've kind of instilled in us, is you want to stick up for your teammates, and it goes hand in hand up here."
Fitzgerald skated on a defense pair with Jacob Bryson, with whom he made the jump from the NCAA to Rochester in 2019. It was his shot from the point that deflected off traffic and created the rebound for Girgensons' goal, earning Fitzgerald his first NHL assist.

He finished the game having tallied two shots, five hits, and two blocked shots in 16:42. It was the type of steady performance Granato, who coached Fitzgerald at the U.S. National Team Development Program, expected when he gave him the start opposite Sidney Crosby. Fitzgerald, a Penguins fan growing up, admitted he had to try not to crack a smile. But the moment was not too big for him.
"He looked like Casey to me," Granato said bluntly. "I mean, I had him for two years. It was no surprise to me to watch him play and play that way. He looked like Casey, so it was pretty cool."

Up next

The Sabres return home to host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Tickets are available here.
Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7.