PITTSBURGH — Ruslan Fedotenko had a goal and an assist and Sidney Crosby — in his first game since winning the Olympics for Canada — set up Sergei Gonchar's 200th career goal to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Crosby, playing two days after beating United States goalie Ryan Miller for the game-winning overtime goal for Canada in Vancouver, could have opposed Miller again, but Sabres coach Lindy Ruff chose to start backup Patrick Lalime.
Ruff said Miller deserved a night off after the emotionally draining two-week Olympic tournament in which Miller was chosen MVP.
The pro-Olympic buzz created by the memorable Canada-U.S. game was evidenced by the standing ovations given Miller and Crosby during pregame introductions — and, for perhaps the first time in his career, Crosby drew fewer cheers than an opposing player in his own arena. The ovation given Miller was noticeably louder and longer.
Twice when replays of Crosby's game-winner were shown on the Mellon Arena scoreboard, there was perceptible booing — not that Crosby had scored, but because the U.S. didn't win.
Miller watched the game from a Mellon Arena runway, where the fan sitting nearest to him wore a Crosby Canada Olympic jersey.
The Penguins lost three of their final four before the Olympic break, all in overtime or a shootout, before beating Buffalo for the third time in four games.
The Sabres began the night only one point out of the Northeast Division lead but lost their seventh in eight games.
Fedotenko, an inconsistent scorer all season, put Pittsburgh up 3-1 at 11:03 of the third — a goal the Penguins needed after Derek Roy scored at 15:21 on a shot that wasn't originally ruled a goal. The puck entered and exited the net so quickly that the officials did not signal a goal until after a video review.
Gonchar, who played for non-medalist Russia during the Olympics, put the Penguins up 1-0 with a shot from the point during a power play at 14:58 of the first, with Alex Goligoski and Crosby assisting. Buffalo began the game with the NHL's top-rated penalty killing unit.
Pascal Dupuis made it 2-0 by taking Fedotenko's pass along the goal line and beating Lalime inside the near post at 3:13 of the second. Toni Lydman answered for Buffalo less than three minutes later with a one-timer from the top of the left circle on a play created by Patrick Kaleta's drop pass.
Penguins goalie Brent Johnson made 26 saves, while Lalime stopped 25 shots. Lalime turned aside 50 of 51 shots while going 1-0-1 in his two previous starts against the Penguins this season. Miller opposed Pittsburgh only once, allowing three goals to Crosby during a 5-4 Penguins victory on Feb. 1.
NOTES: Evgeni Malkin has eight goals and 15 assists in 14 games, including an assist on Dupuis' goal. ... D Jordan Leopold, acquired Monday in a trade with Florida, made his Pittsburgh debut and was paired with Goligoski. ... Penguins D Jay McKee, reportedly on the trading block, was held out after Pittsburgh picked up Leopold. ... Buffalo was 0 for 4 on the power play. Pittsburgh went 1 for 2.
Sabres
Related Photos
-
Keith Srakocic
NHL: Sabres resume play with a loss to Penguins
- Sabres
-
-
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
-
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.
-
Rangers top Sabres in a shootout
Henrik Lundqvist came out on top in a duel of goalies, stopping 34 shots through overtime and four of five in a shootout in the New York Rangers’ 1-0 win over Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
-
Gaustad leads visiting Sabres to 3-1 win over Canadiens
Paul Gaustad had a goal and two assists to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
-
Chara opens All-Star draft by picking Datsyuk
Daniel Alfredsson stuck close to home — both his native Sweden and his adopted home of Ottawa — in making his selections in the NHL All-Star draft on Thursday night.
-
Sabres snap 12-game road skid
Jason Pominvile and Nathan Gerbe scored in a shootout and Ryan Miller made 27 saves as the Buffalo Sabres snapped a 12-game losing streak on the road with a 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
-
Losipeg
Ondrej Pavelec made 25 saves and the Winnipeg Jets beat Buffalo 4-1 on Thursday night, extending the Sabres’ franchise-record road losing streak to 11 games.
-
Blackhawks blow out Sabres, 6-2
Jonathan Toews had two goals, rookies Andrew Shaw and Jimmy Hayes also scored, and the Chicago Blackhawks handed the Buffalo Sabres their 10th straight road loss, 6-2 on Wednesday night.
-
Rough Road
Home ice has never been more of an advantage to the Red Wings than it has over the last 2 1-2 months.
-
Leafs overturned
Jason Pominville scored the go-ahead goal with 5:47 left in the second period, and the Buffalo Sabres held on for a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
- More Sabres Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
