Buffalo Sabres Top Pittsburgh Again

Go figure.  How can this Buffalo Sabres team play so well against most of the better teams in the league and play so poorly against the lower ranked teams?

For the second time this month the Sabres went into Pittsburgh and beat the Penguins.  Steve Ott scored the winning goal late in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and Thomas Vanek scored his second goal of the game into an empty net for a 4-2 victory.

And even more amazing, the Sabres didn't get a single power play chance.  In fact the Sabres were assessed some questionable penalties while infractions by the Penguins were overlooked.  Thomas Vanek had an apparent goal taken away on a bogus goaltender interference penalty and that's pretty much what the Sabres were up against.

Last time the Sabres played in Pittsburgh they broke the Penguins 15-game winning streak.  This time they ended the Pens' seven-game winning streak.

Win or lose though it doesn't matter.  The Penguins are the top seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs while after Friday night the Sabres call it a season.  The Sabres close it out against the New York Islanders on fan appreciation night at First Niagara Center.