Penguins fall to Sabres in 2nd preseason contest

Seth Rorabaugh
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 10:02 p.m. | Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 10:02 p.m.

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Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Penguins’ Joona Koppanen gets hauled down by the Sabres’ Zach Metsa in the first period, resulting in a penalty shot Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Penguins’ Ryan Graves clears the puck against the Sabres in the second period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic makes a save against the Sabres’ Noah Ostlund in the second period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic makes a save against the Sabres’ Noah Ostlund in the second period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Sabres’ Graham Slaggert takes out the Penguins’ Filip Kral in the second period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Sabres goaltender Michael Houser makes a save in the first period on the Penguins’ Anthony Beauvillier on Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Penguins’ Marc Johnstone celebrates with Jack St. Ivany after St. Ivany’s goal against the Sabres in the first period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Penguins’ Black Lizotte checks the Sabres’ Jack Rathbone in the first period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

Sabres goaltender Michael Houser stops the Penguins’ Joona Koppanen on a penalty shoot in the first period Tuesday.

Chaz Palla | TribLive

The Penguins’ Jack St. Ivany beats Sabres goaltender Michael Houser in the first period Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped their second game of the preseason, falling to the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany opened the scoring 2 minutes, 57 seconds into regulation with his first goal of the preseason off a rebound.

The Sabres took their first lead of the contest in the first period after forward Graham Slaggert (12:43) and defenseman Nikita Novikov (14:39) each scored their first goals.

Penguins forward Joona Koppanen drew a penalty shot at 16:44 of the opening frame, but his backhander attempt was snuffed out by goaltender Michael Houser, a native of Wexford.

Forward Kevin Hayes’ first goal tied the score 4:32 into the second period, but the Sabres were able to regain a lead 140 seconds later when forward Anton Wahlberg scored his first goal on a power-play sequence.

Penguins defenseman Filip Kral left the contest at 13:47 of the third period with a suspected left leg injury. There was no immediate word on his status.

In his first action of the preseason, Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was charged with a loss after making 12 saves on 15 shots in 30:11 of ice time. He was replaced at 10:45 of the second period by Joel Blomqvist, who stopped all 11 shots he faced in 27:33 of ice time.

The Penguins’ next game this preseason is a road contest against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.