Sabres at Penguins
THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to avoid a third straight loss Saturday when they host the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins are fading fast amidst mounting injuries - none larger than that of captain Sidney Crosby, who will miss his fifth straight game. The Penguins have won once in four contests since losing Crosby to reoccurring concussion symptoms. The Penguins have fallen to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, just three points ahead of the Sabres. Buffalo has been decimated by the injury bug this season. The Sabres are currently playing without seven regulars, but has still won three of their last six games. Drew Stafford netted the game winner for Buffalo in the first meeting of the two teams, a 3-2 win in Pittsburgh.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, ROOT
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (17-11-4): Steve Sullivan led the Penguins with a goal and two assists in Friday’s 6-4 road loss to the Ottawa Senators. Evgeni Malkin added a goal and an assist. The Russian star has seven points in his last four games and 17 in the last 12. G Marc-Andre Fleury was scheduled to have the game off in Ottawa, but was forced into action in the third period after backup Brent Johnson was lit up for five second-period goals. He stopped four of five shots. The goalie workhorse has won 15 games this season with two shutouts.
ABOUT THE SABRES (16-12-3): Playing in his 500th NHL game, Thomas Vanek had two goals and two assists as he led Buffalo to a 5-4 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday. Derek Roy, who was also playing in his 500th NHL game, chipped in an assist. G Ryan Miller made 29 saves. The Sabres, who are 8-3-0 on the road this year, overtook the Leafs for second spot in the Northeast Division.
OVERTIME:
1. Stafford scored his 100th NHL goal on Friday.
2. Penguins F Pascal Dupuis played in his 700th NHL game.
3. At 18.3 percent, Pittsburgh and Buffalo sit 10th and 11th respectively in power play production.