(SportsNetwork.com) – The streaking Pittsburgh Penguins will take aim at a
fourth consecutive victory when they host the Buffalo Sabres in Saturday’s
meeting at Consol Energy Center.
Pittsburgh has outscored the opposition by a 14-3 margin during its three-game
winning streak. Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury won all three games
while recording his first two shutouts of the season.
The Pens started the hot stretch with a 3-0 win in Nashville last Saturday and
then recorded Tuesday’s 8-3 win over New Jersey to kick off a three-game
homestand. Pittsburgh earned another 3-0 decision on Thursday when it blanked
the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
Chris Kunitz posted two goals and one assist to back a 36-save performance
from Fleury as the Pens silenced the Los Angeles Kings. Kunitz recorded his
first multi-goal effort since last March 10 against Washington.
“It feels good to contribute,” Kunitz said.
Kris Letang recorded the other tally for the Penguins, while Evgeni Malkin
notched an assist for his 400th career helper. Fleury, meanwhile, extended his
club record in shutouts to 30.
Pittsburgh is 4-2-0 as the host this season and has won its last two home
games versus the Sabres, who were outscored 12-2 by the Penguins last season
en route to getting swept in the three-game season series.
Buffalo has lost 12 of its last 16 meetings with the Pens.
Fleury is 15-5-2 with a 2.39 goals against average and two shutouts in his
career against the Sabres.
The Sabres are just 2-8-1 on the season, but the rebuilding club earned its
fifth point of 2014-15 thanks to Thursday’s overtime loss against visiting
Boston. Brad Marchand fueled the Bruins’ 3-2 comeback victory, notching both
the game-tying goal late in the third period and the OT winner.
After scoring with 3:40 left in regulation, Marchand one-timed the puck over
the glove of Jhonas Enroth for a Boston win just 80 seconds into the extra
session.
Drew Stafford and Tyler Ennis both lit the lamp and Enroth stopped 34-of-37
shots for Buffalo, which has dropped six of its last seven games.
“There’s some positive things we can take from this game,” said Buffalo head
coach Ted Nolan. “The effort was there and it was a lot better than I’ve seen
at times.”
Enroth expects to start on Saturday. He is 1-3-0 with a respectable 2.58 GAA
in four career games versus Pittsburgh.
Both of Buffalo’s victories this season have come on the road, as the Sabres
are 2-4-0 away from First Niagara Center compared to an 0-4-1 mark as the
host.
