Colin Miller and Kyle Okposo scored in the second period Tuesday and the visiting Buffalo Sabres held on to top the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1.
Buffalo goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 45 saves as the Sabres improved to 2-2-1 in their past five games.
Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins, who have lost three straight.
Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry made 17 saves.
The Penguins, after dealing with significant absences because of injuries and COVID-19 protocol, finally reached a full roster Sunday (minus center Evgeni Malkin, who had offseason knee surgery). But, two games in, that configuration has not produced a point.
The Sabres took a 1-0 lead 28 seconds into the second period. From deep, Drake Caggiula banked a pass off the boards. Miller got the puck at the right point for a rising one-timer through traffic that went in far side.
Buffalo increased its lead to 2-0 at 8:54 of the second. Zemgus Girgensons carried the puck from behind the Penguins’ net into the left circle, then sent a feed toward the top of the crease. Okposo deftly tipped it under Jarry for his fourth goal.
During a Pittsburgh power play in the second, Tokarski made a point-blank save on Jeff Carter to preserve the two-goal advantage.
The Penguins thought they might have scored at 17:22 of the second on Carter’s wraparound attempt near Tokarski’s right skate, but the play was reviewed and deemed no goal.
Early in the third, Tokarski got his glove on a shot by Teddy Blueger on a breakaway.
Guentzel spoiled Tokarski’s shutout bid with a power-play goal to cut it to 2-1 at 5:59 of the third. The Penguins had been 0-for-3 on the power play in the game and 0-for-25 in their previous eight games.
The game was played just hours after reports said the Penguins are in the verge of being sold to the Fenway Sports Group.
–Field Level Media