Penguins newcomers, including Erik Karlsson, make preseason debuts in win over Buffalo
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Goaltender Tristan Jarry made 26 saves on 27 shots and directed the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-1 preseason victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
Rickard Rakell finished off a pass from Sidney Crosby in the second period, and Drew O’Connor added a pair of goals for the Penguins.
Notable newcomers to the Penguins, such as defensemen Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves and forwards Noel Acciari, Lars Eller, Matt Nieto and Reilly Smith, made their preseason debuts with the team.
“I felt good,” Karlsson said. “I wasn’t too weirded out. It was definitely a little bit of a different feeling, especially in the warmup and stuff, being on the other side. It feels pretty natural to me actually. Ever since I got here about three weeks ago, I’ve been welcomed in the best way possible by everyone. It just feels like home, right from the start. It felt pretty good and pretty normal.”
Rakell broke the stalemate 11 minutes, 27 seconds into the second period with his first goal this preseason. Controlling the puck low to the right of the cage, Crosby dished a pass to the near circle for Rakell.
Newly installed on the left wing of Crosby’s line, Rakell seamlessly swiped a one-timer to the far side past goaltender Eric Comrie’s blocker. Crosby and linemate Bryan Rust had assists.
Things were tied 1-1 when forward Tage Thompson tallied his first goal late in the second period at the 19:19 mark.
After Rakell lost the puck in the neutral zone, Thompson took possession, transitioned to offense and roared into the offensive zone like he was hauling freight through Altoona’s Horseshoe Curve. Fending off Graves, Thompson attacked the cage and tucked a slick forehand shot past Jarry’s left skate. Forward Jordan Greenway garnered the lone assist.
The hosts reclaimed a lead, 2-1, at 8:48 of the third period. Settling a puck on the left wing wall of the offensive zone, Eller surveyed for a moment then snapped a shot pass to the front of the crease.
Stationed just above the blue paint, O’Connor deflected the puck past Comrie’s glove for his first goal. Eller and defenseman Marcus Pettersson were credited with assists.
An empty-net score by O’Connor at 19:06 of the final frame capped the scoring. The lone assist went to Acciari.
The Penguins’ next game this preseason is a neutral-site contest Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators in Halifax, Nova Scotia.