In Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby hit for a double and three points on Saturday in a 3-1 win over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Kris Letang, returned to the lineup after suffering a stroke 12 ago.
“It was great,” Letang said. “I was getting anxious to get back out there. With the schedule, we don’t have the chance to practice that much. Tried to prepare the best I could.”
Casey DeSmith made 37 saves in the Pens win.
Pittsburgh improved to 16-8-4.
Peyton Krebs was the lone striker for the Sabres.
“This game, for sure, we gave up four minutes on the power play, or two power plays, to them early. Had to kill two penalties,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “That got the crowd in it, it got them energized. … We could have got more traffic and we could have had a greater shot mentality.”
Buffalo dropped to 12-14-2.
Rickard Rakell and Crosby scored in the first period to give the Pens a 2-0 lead through 6:51 of the first period.
“I think you just want to start well, if you can,” Crosby said. “Nice to be at home on the second half of [a home-and-home] and get a good start. They pushed back I thought, but we definitely had some good chances.”
Krebs scored with nine minutes left in regulation to get the Sabres to within one.
“We know the type of team we are and how we can play,” Krebs said. “That first period wasn’t our best. We went into the room and we just allowed ourselves to stay calm and get to our game. I think in the second and third we dominated them. Just couldn’t get the job done tonight.”
Crosby’s second came late in the third for the 3-1 final.
“He has to be in the conversation (for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP), in my opinion,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s the leading goal-scorer in the League 5-on-5. He has such a mature game. He plays on both sides of the puck. … I think he’s the most complete player in the game, if you ask me.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves in the Sabres loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.