The Pittsburgh Penguins scored a pair of goals before the game was two minutes old, only to see the Buffalo Sabres fight back and eventually take their first lead early in the third period. It didn’t last long. Pascal Dupuis tied it at 3-3 seven minutes into the final frame and Paul Martin notched the game-winner with just 2:04 left in regulation past a screened Ryan Miller as the Sabres dropped a game they seemed to take control of, 4-3 at the First Niagara Center.
Cody Hodgson, Thomas Vanek and Steve Ott scored for Buffalo.
With the loss, Buffalo fell to 6-9-1 on the season and a three way tie for 10th place in the Eastern Conference with 13 points. Despite their season-long struggles, they are currently just two points away from eighth place Ottawa and a playoff spot.
“It was tough, definitely a tough start,” Sabres captain Jason Pominville said after the game. “I mean, getting down by two against that team, but we managed to stick with it and battle back, and got the lead, and just probably weren’t good enough with the lead, and when the game was on the line our power play didn’t get it done.”
Buffalo doesn’t have a lot of time to sulk. They remain home to face the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night.
