Final
Gaustad scores twice as Sabres beat Penguins
Nov 29, 2008 - 5:04 AM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Paul Gaustad picked a great time to score his first two goals of the season.His second tally of the night with 3:24 remaining in the third period proved to be the game-winner as Buffalo Sabres rallied to a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Drew Stafford had two goals and an assist and Ryan Miller made 27 saves for the Sabres, who won their second straight after a five-game losing streak.
"I thought the all-around game tonight was probably as good as we played since close to the start of the year," Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought our special teams were exceptional, our desperation and competitive edge (and) our play away from the puck was good."
Captain Sidney Crosby scored a pair of goals and Tyler Kennedy also tallied as the Penguins were unable to hold leads of 1-0 and 3-2.
Rookie John Curry made 28 saves in his first NHL start for Pittsburgh, including a number of fantastic stops in the third before Gaustad beat him for the go-ahead goal.
"I'm not going to be satisfied, obviously," Curry said. "I would have liked to get a win. Make one more save and we're going to overtime and getting a point. I'm proud to get my first NHL start, something I'll never forget, but at the same time I have to reflect on it and improve."
Stafford tied the game just 3:11 into the third period and the Sabres appeared poised to take the lead on numerous occasions, if not for the first-year netminder. Thomas Vanek and Clarke MacArthur had point-blank chances turned aside on spectacular glove saves by Curry.
The former Boston University walk-on also stopped Gaustad's original shot just outside the crease after the center took a feed from the right boards by Jason Pominville.
But Curry was unable to corral the rebound and Gaustad put in the rebound and the Sabres held on for the victory.
"I tried to get behind their D-men, Jason found me (and) made a great pass," Gaustad said. "Goaltender made a great save on the first one, I did fall down, the puck was right there so I just gave it a second whack."
After Kennedy gave the Penguins their first lead of the game at 10:29 of the first, Stafford scored just 56 seconds later as the game went to the first intermission knotted at 1-1.
"They're a desperate team right now," Curry said. "If you look at them on tape they're a very skilled team. They've done well the last few games. They're pretty desperate for a win. I think that's why they came out so hard and got one more than we did."
The Sabres took the lead on a power-play goal by Gaustad at 12:21 of the second, but this time it was the Penguins who answered quickly as Crosby slapped a puck out of the air and past Miller to tie the game.
Crosby scored again with 56 seconds left in the session to record his third multi-point game in his last four contests and give Pittsburgh the lead, 3-2. Evgeni Malkin assisted on both of Crosby's goals to give him a league-leading 27 on the season.
"We scored three goals, that is enough to win a hockey game," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "We didn't compete to win in the third, it is pretty simple. There were four goals around the crease, it is just a matter of battle."
Buffalo tied the game, 3-3, when Stafford scored on assists from Vanek and Derek Roy.
- NHL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 1 2 0 3
BUFFALO 1 1 2 4 FINAL
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PIT - TYLER KENNEDY 6 (MATT COOKE, ROB SCUDERI) 10:29
BUF - DREW STAFFORD 3 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
11:25
2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) PAUL GAUSTAD 1 (DREW STAFFORD, MARK MANCARI)
12:21
PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 9 (EVG
Nov 28 10:21 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 3
BUFFALO 4
3RD PRD: BUF - PAUL GAUSTAD 2 (JASON POMINVILLE, JOCHEN HECHT) 16:36
Penguins 3, Sabres 4 3rd - 3:24Nov 28 10:16 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 3
BUFFALO 3
3RD PRD: BUF - DREW STAFFORD 4 (THOMAS VANEK, DEREK ROY) 3:11
Penguins 3, Sabres 3 3rd - 16:49Nov 28 9:45 PM - NHL
END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 1 2 3
BUFFALO 1 1 2 END OF THE 2ND
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PIT - TYLER KENNEDY 6 (MATT COOKE, ROB SCUDERI) 10:29
BUF - DREW STAFFORD 3 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
11:25
2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) PAUL GAUSTAD 1 (DREW STAFFORD, MARK MANCARI)
12:21
PIT - SIDNEY
Nov 28 9:23 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 3
BUFFALO 2
2ND PRD: PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 10 (EVGENI MALKIN) 19:04
Penguins 3, Sabres 2 2nd - 0:56Nov 28 9:21 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 2
BUFFALO 2
2ND PRD: PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 9 (EVGENI MALKIN) 12:55
Penguins 2, Sabres 2 2nd - 7:05Nov 28 9:08 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 1
BUFFALO 2
2ND PRD: BUF - (PP) PAUL GAUSTAD 1 (DREW STAFFORD, MARK MANCARI) 12:21
Penguins 1, Sabres 2 2nd - 7:39Nov 28 9:06 PM - NHL
END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PITTSBURGH 1 1
BUFFALO 1 1 END OF THE 1ST
GOAL SCORING:
1ST PRD: PIT - TYLER KENNEDY 6 (MATT COOKE, HAL GILL) 10:29
BUF - DREW STAFFORD 3 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
11:25
SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
PIT 12 1
Nov 28 8:24 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 1
BUFFALO 1
1ST PRD: BUF - DREW STAFFORD 3 (MAXIM AFINOGENOV, JAROSLAV SPACEK)
11:25
Penguins 1, Sabres 1 1st - 8:35Nov 28 8:07 PM - NHL
PITTSBURGH 1
BUFFALO 0
1ST PRD: PIT - TYLER KENNEDY 6 (MATT COOKE, HAL GILL) 10:29
Penguins 1, Sabres 0 1st - 9:31Nov 28 8:06 PM
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