PITTSBURGH — In an exhilarating overtime clash, the Pittsburgh Penguins edged out the Buffalo Sabres with a score of 6-5, thanks to a power-play goal from Sidney Crosby just 1:38 into the extra period.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Evgeni Malkin, as he became the 48th player in NHL history to hit the remarkable achievement of 500 career goals. In a display of teamwork, Crosby assisted Malkin’s goal by delivering a creative between-the-legs pass from behind the net while Malkin was seated on the ice.
Crosby reached his milestone of 1,600 regular-season points when he registered a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal early in the first period. Rust later tied the game with just 46 seconds remaining in regulation, scoring his second goal, which pushed the game into overtime. Additionally, Drew O’Connor contributed a short-handed goal, and Jesse Puljujarvi found the net for the second time this season.
The game saw Tristan Jarry start as the Penguins’ goaltender but was pulled after conceding three goals on five shots in the first period. Joel Blomqvist stepped in and recorded an impressive 26 saves throughout the rest of the match.
On the other side, the Sabres welcomed back J.J. Peterka, who made an impact by scoring twice after sitting out two games due to a concussion. Ryan McLeod, Tage Thompson, and Jordan Greenway also added goals for Buffalo, while Alex Tuch provided two assists to his teammates. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood strong in goal for the Sabres, making 36 saves.
Analyzing the game further, the Sabres were on the verge of winning consecutive games for the first time this season, having previously lost their first three with a combined score of 10-3. However, they could not secure leads of 3-1 and 5-4 against the resilient Penguins.
Conversely, the Penguins celebrated their first back-to-back wins of the season, showcasing an improvement in their performance.
One of the game’s standout moments was when Rust pounced on a loose puck near the crease, tapping it in with just 46 seconds left to level the score and keep his team’s hopes alive.
A key statistic from the game highlighted that the Penguins boast an impressive record of 399 wins, 90 losses, and 47 ties whenever both Crosby and Malkin manage to score points in a match.
Looking ahead, the Sabres will extend their road trip with a matchup against Columbus on Thursday, whereas the Penguins will prepare to host Carolina on Friday before embarking on a four-game road trip.