Karlsson and Malkin score as Jarry records shutout with Penguins 4-0 win over Sabres
Gene J. Puskar - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh Penguins鈥� Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates with Rickard Rakell (67) and Ryan Graves after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Gene J. Puskar - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh Penguins鈥� Evgeni Malkin (71) gets off a pass behind Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Gene J. Puskar - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pittsburgh Penguins鈥� Rickard Rakell (67) controls the puck with Buffalo Sabres鈥� Connor Clifton, center right, defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor (10) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor, front center, looks at the scoreboard as he heads to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Buffalo Sabres' Henri Jokiharju (10) checks Pittsburgh Penguins' Erik Karlsson during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Noel Acciari (55) can't get a shot past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) with Rasmus Dahlin (26) defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
A shot bounces off the face mask of Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during the period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Marcus Pettersson (28) checks Buffalo Sabres' Dylan Cozens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen pauses after allowing a goal by Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� The Pittsburgh Penguins admit they weren鈥檛 really where they wanted to be during a 3-6 stretch to open the season.
But a road trip to California helped the Penguins gain some much-needed confidence and momentum, which they brought back home.
Erik Karlsson scored twice, Evgeni Malkin also scored and Tristan Jarry recorded a shutout in his return from injury, as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-0 on Saturday night.
鈥淎s of late, it feels like it蘑菇视频 starting to come together a little bit more,鈥� Karlsson said. 鈥淭hings are falling into place a little bit easier and we鈥檙e starting to get the results to go with that.鈥�
Both of Karlsson蘑菇视频 goals came in the third period 鈥� on the power play early and a late empty netter 鈥� to extend a five-game point streak. Malkin scored his eighth goal of the season and added an assist. Drew O鈥機onnor scored his first and Sidney Crosby extended an eight-game point streak for the Penguins, who have won four straight.
Jarry made 35 saves for Pittsburgh. He recorded his third shutout of the season and 16th of his career.
Jarry returned Saturday after missing Thursday蘑菇视频 game at Los Angeles with a facial injury. His mask came off during a scramble in front Tuesday at Anaheim and he was struck in the eye with a puck. He played through 38:15 of a combined shutout with Magnus Hellberg at Anaheim.
Jarry said Saturday that he received stitches after the Ducks game and his eye closed at one point.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 see anything for the last couple days,鈥� Jarry said. 鈥淚t was nice that the swelling finally went down and I was able to play.鈥�
Malkin蘑菇视频 eight goals in 13 games are the most since he scored nine goals in 12 games during the 2006-07 season, his rookie year. Karlsson, last year蘑菇视频 Norris Trophy winner, who was acquired in a blockbuster summer trade with San Jose, has nine points during his five-game run. Crosby has been held without a point just once in 13 games this season.
鈥淚 think guys in general are playing more cohesive hockey together,鈥� Karlsson said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e starting to come together as a group. It蘑菇视频 still early in the journey and it feels like we have a lot more to give, which is a nice feeling to have.鈥�
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 36 shots for Buffalo, which lost for the third time in five games. The Sabres were coming off a 3-2 home win against Minnesota 24 hours earlier.
鈥淚 thought they did a good job of clearing second opportunities,鈥� Sabres captain Kyle Okposo said. 鈥淲e obviously didn鈥檛 do enough to score tonight.鈥�
Karlsson put the game away with a power-play goal 27 seconds into the third period, giving Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead. His shot from the point hit Buffalo蘑菇视频 Erik Johnson and went past Luukkonen.
鈥淭hat was a big goal to kind of get us going in the third,鈥� Karlsson said. 鈥淭he power-play goal definitely gave us that extra confidence boost to finish it off.鈥�
UP NEXT
Sabres: Host Boston on Tuesday.
Penguins: Visit Columbus on Tuesday.