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Pens rally to down Sabres

Feb 5, 2011 - 5:18 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Matt Cooke notched the game-winner in the second period as Pittsburgh erased a two-goal deficit en route to a 3-2 decision over Buffalo at CONSOL Energy Center.

Dustin Jeffrey and Tyler Kennedy also lit the lamp for the Penguins, who have won five straight games and eight of nine overall.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27-of-29 shots for the win.

"They came out pretty strong and were up for a while," said Fleury. "We expected them to come out strong but we didn't want to let up those two quick goals. It's nice to see we didn't let down after that and came back to win it."

Paul Gaustad and Mike Grier tallied for the Sabres, who lost for the second time in their last six. Ryan Miller allowed three goals on 39 shots in defeat.

"We came out strong and started the game off right," said Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers. "But we let them off the hook in the second and third and it cost us."

Pittsburgh finally hit the scoreboard at 3:50 of the second period, when Jeffrey's backhander kicked out from Miller and deflected off Sabres forward Tim Connolly's skate before heading into the net.

Kennedy tied the game at 6:24 with a high wrister from the right circle, then 40 seconds later the Pens moved ahead for good as Cooke converted a backhander from in front.

Fleury made the lead hold up with 13 saves in the third period, and Buffalo's best chance with Miller pulled for an extra skater came when Jason Pominville failed to bat in a centering feed at the left side of the crease inside of a minute remaining.

Gaustad tallied just 17 seconds into the contest, lifting his own rebound over Fleury in a goalmouth scramble.

It was 2-0 for Buffalo at 7:03 when Grier was credited with a wraparound goal that ticked off the skate of a Penguins defenseman before crossing the line.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh has won all three meetings with Buffalo this season and six of the last seven...Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin returned for the first time since January 18, but left the game early in the second period when he was checked into the end boards by Myers...Rob Niedermayer assisted on both Sabres goals.