Penguins Cruise Past Sabres 5-1

It likely had a lot to do with the players each team put on the ice and it certainly was reflected in the score.  Wednesday night in Pittsburgh the Penguins went with a lineup that included Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Hornquist, Guentzel and Letang while the Buffalo Sabres decided to hold out most of their stars including Eichel, Reinhart, Okposo, Skinner, Dahlin and Ristolainen.  Phil Kessel scored twice in the first period and Penguins added three more in the second period and cruised to 5 to 1 over the Sabres.

Alex Nylander scored the lone Buffalo goal.  It made it 2 to 1 at the time but Chris Letang made it 3-1 Pittsburgh just 30 seconds later and that’s as close as the Sabres would come.

Linus Ulmark got the start in goal and stopped 27 shots.

The Sabres close out the preseason with a game against the Islanders in Brooklyn Friday night.  Their season opener is next Thursday night against the Boston Bruins at Key Bank Center.