Sabres Stumble in Second Period Collapse, Fall to Penguins 5-2

The Buffalo Sabres began Friday night’s matchup at KeyBank Center brimming with confidence, fueled by an electric first-period performance that showcased Owen Power’s precision and the team’s speed. However, a second-period meltdown and stellar goaltending from Pittsburgh Penguins backup Alex Nedeljkovic turned the tide, leaving Buffalo with a 5-2 loss in their final game of a three-game homestand.

A Promising Start

Buffalo controlled the pace early, capitalizing on a double-minor high-sticking penalty assessed to Evgeni Malkin midway through the opening frame. The Sabres’ second power-play unit stepped up, with Owen Power netting his first power-play point of the season. Power’s wrister from the slot, fed by Bowen Byram and Zach Benson, gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead at 15:16.

The Sabres dominated puck possession and outshot Pittsburgh 10-6 in the first period, showcasing strong defensive zone clears led by Mattias Samuelsson and promising offensive surges by Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka. Despite a few dangerous moments, including a post-rattling shot from Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, Buffalo looked poised to extend their momentum into the next period.

A Spiraling Second Period

The game took a sharp turn 31 seconds into the second period when Rasmus Dahlin was called for high-sticking, giving the Penguins their second power play. Rickard Rakell quickly capitalized with a one-timer from the right circle to tie the game. Less than 30 seconds later, Anthony Beauvillier broke free behind Buffalo’s defense to beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen glove-side, handing Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead.

From there, Buffalo’s struggles compounded. A tripping penalty on Henri Jokiharju led to Cody Glass netting Pittsburgh’s third goal on a power-play slot shot. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s penalty-kill unit, ranked near the bottom of the league, failed to adjust, allowing the Penguins to finish the night 3-for-4 with the man advantage.

Luukkonen endured a tough outing, stopping just 14 of 18 shots. The second-year netminder was visibly shaken after a collision with Malkin late in the second period but stayed in the game after a brief evaluation.

Final Push Falls Short

Bryan Rust’s snipe early in the third period extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 4-1, deflating the KeyBank Center crowd. Although the Sabres generated 42 shots on goal, Nedeljkovic stood tall, turning aside Buffalo’s numerous high-danger chances, including back-to-back saves on Tyson Kozak and Dylan Cozens.

Zach Benson reignited the Sabres’ hopes with just over five minutes remaining, finishing a perfectly threaded pass from Thompson to trim the deficit to 4-2. Coach Lindy Ruff pulled Luukkonen for an extra attacker shortly thereafter, but Pittsburgh sealed the victory when Nedeljkovic launched a 200-foot empty-net goal—an exclamation point on his stellar 40-save performance.

Takeaways

Buffalo’s special teams woes were glaring. The penalty kill faltered at critical moments, and the power play, despite converting once, went 1-for-5 and struggled with turnovers. Conversely, Pittsburgh’s efficient play in all situations underscored their veteran poise.

Owen Power’s performance was a silver lining for the Sabres. His confidence and offensive instinct were evident on his goal, and he logged significant minutes against Pittsburgh’s top players. Zach Benson also continued to impress with his late tally and playmaking.

What’s Next

The Sabres (17-23-5) head west for a challenging four-game road trip, starting Monday against the Seattle Kraken.

Buffalo’s next home game is Jan. 28, when they host the Boston Bruins at KeyBank Center.