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The Penguins' four goals were a season high -- they had only
16 in the first nine games -- as they won their third in a row
and sixth in seven games despite being outshot 53-29.
Penguins backup goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, starting his first NHL
game since April 13, 2014, gave up two quick goals in the second
period but made 50 saves for his first win since March 22, 2014.
Marc-Andre Fleury started Pittsburgh's first nine games.
Bylsma, the Sabres' third coach in three seasons, led the
Penguins to a Stanley Cup win during his first season in 2008-09
and a team-record 252 wins in 5 1/2 seasons. He coached in
Pittsburgh for the first time since the Penguins were eliminated
by the New York Rangers in the 2013-14 Eastern Conference
playoffs.
Malkin's domination late in the second gave Pittsburgh a
two-goal lead, but Sabres left winger Matt Moulson scored with
2:26 remaining on Buffalo's 49th shot, for his fourth of the
season. Buffalo skated 6-on-4 on a power play for the final 1:51
but couldn't tie it, even after outshooting Pittsburgh 24-4 in
the period.
The Penguins, who outscored the Sabres 25-3 while winning their
previous six home games against them, needed only 56 seconds to
take the early lead on left winger Pascal Dupuis' first goal
since he scored twice against Toronto last Nov. 14
Sabres goalie Chris Johnson, a 2006 Pittsburgh draft pick, fell
behind 2-0 when right winger Patric Hornqvist -- recently
promoted to center Sidney Crosby's top line -- scored his first
of the season after Crosby outfought two Sabres for the puck
along the boards and fed him in the slot.
Crosby assisted on the two goals, only his 4th and 5th points of
the season.
Buffalo, coming off a 4-3 win at Philadelphia on Tuesday, tied
it later in the first on goals 2:15 apart against Zatkoff.
Left winger Jamie McGinn deflected defenseman Rasmus
Ristolainen's wrist shot from the blue line at 14:25.
Ristolainen also assisted on left winger Nicolas Deslauriers'
second of the season at 16:40, a goal created by center Ryan
O'Reilly's alert pass from behind the net.
But Pittsburgh grabbed back the lead in the second as Malkin set
up one goal and scored another.
Seconds after coming out of the penalty box, Ben Lovejoy put in
his own rebound after Malkin hit him with a give-back pass as
the defenseman skated down the slot. Malkin then scored only the
third power-play goal all season by Pittsburgh, whiffing on his
initial shot only to kick the puck to his stick with his right
skate and put it inside the near post at 14:57.
NOTES: The Penguins skipped the morning skate after winning 3-1
in Washington on Wednesday night, but the Sabres worked out
before a full house of media to talk mostly to Dan Bylsma, the
former Pittsburgh coach. His 252 victories in five-plus seasons
are the most in Penguins history. ... Buffalo scratched D Carlo
Colaiacovo and C Tyler Ennis ... Sabres D Mike Weber returned
after sitting out the previous two games. ... Sabres D Zach
Bogosian (lower body) skated before practice but is not ready to
return. ... The Penguins wore their alternate third jersey for
the first time. They also played their first back-to-back of the
season. ... The Penguins play their next four on the road before
returning to Consol Energy Center on Nov. 11 to face Montreal.
... Pittsburgh held out D Adam Clendening and LW Sergei
Plotnikov. ... Penguins 18-year-old RW Daniel Sprong will play
past the nine-game deadline for his entry-level contract to
begin.
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