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Fedetenko Leads Penguins To Victory Over Sabres After Olympic Break
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Ruslan Fedotenko had a goal and an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins took a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in the first game after the Olympic break for both teams.
Pascal Dupuis and Sergei Gonchar each had a goal for the Penguins, who had dropped four of five going into the break. Brent Johnson made 26 stops in the win.
Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby, who scored the game-winner in overtime in Canada's 3-2 win over the United States in the gold medal game, had one assist in the contest.
Toni Lydman and Derek Roy each had a goal for the Sabres, who have now lost seven of their last eight games. Patrick Lalime made 25 stops in the loss.
Ryan Miller, who was named MVP of the Olympic tournament as he guided the Americans to the silver medal, took the game off.
The Penguins drew first blood and the did so on the power play as Gonchar’s shot from the high slot made its way through traffic and into the net with 5:02 to play in the opening frame.
Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead 3:13 into the second when Fedotenko sent a cross- ice pass from the right side to the left where an uncovered Dupuis slammed it home.
Buffalo, though, made it a one-goal game 3 1/2 minutes later as Patrick Kaleta left a drop pass at the left circle for Lydman, who blasted it past Johnson.
Pittsburgh moved ahead 3-1 at the 11:03 mark of the third as a left circle faceoff win resulted in a tic-tac-toe play that Fedotenko capped on a one- timer from the inside left circle.
The Sabres again made it a one-goal game with 5:39 left in regulation as Roy backhanded a rebound top shelf. There was initially no call on the goal, but a replay showed that the puck went into the net and it was a 3-2 game.
Buffalo peppered Johnson with shots over the final minutes, but the goaltender came up with the saves to preserve the win.
Pittsburgh plays in New York against the Rangers on Thursday...Buffalo hosts Washington on Wednesday...Pittsburgh took three of four against Buffalo this season...Gonchar's goal was the 200th of his career.
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