Penguins top Sabres for second straight win to start season
Oct 5, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) scores on a penalty shot past Buffalo Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Penguins are on pace for 82 wins this year. Well, for now.
The Penguins are 2-0 after they beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the second home game of the season Saturday night.
The game started with a goal scored by Sidney Crosby, who scored his second goal in two games. He got his own rebound back and scored on backup Sabres goaltender Jonas Enroth, who didn’t really play well today.
The second goal by the Penguins came later in the period when Chuck Kobasew, a new Penguin forward, scored on a wrist shot to make it 2-0. Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had some very nice saves in the first and second periods.
Chris Kunitz scored the Penguins’ third goal on a penalty shot. Yes, a penalty shot, which we rarely ever see in the NHL anymore. That gave Pittsburgh a good lead midway through the third period.
Fleury had a shutout all the way until under five minutes left, when Thomas Vanek scored on a tip-in in front of the net. It spoiled what might have been Fleury’s second shutout in the row, which we rarely see from him.
Craig Adams then added a empty-net goal with less than two minutes to go to seal the game for the Penguins. Adams and Kobasew have both scored in each of the first two games.
The Penguins have played very well so far, but it’s a long season. I’d bet that Fleury is loving new assistant coach Jacques Martin right now since he’s a great defensive coach.
Pittsburgh hosts Carolina on Tuesday night to wrap-up its season-opening three-game homestand.