Penguins Kick Off Post-Olympic Stretch With 3-2 Win Over Buffalo

And so, it began for the Pittsburgh Penguins last night.

21 games in 40 days until the end of the regular season.

So much for needing to get back in the groove.

After a classy, rousing ovation at the outset of last night's game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres for USA Olympic MVP goaltender Ryan Miller of the Sabres -- who had the night off in favor of the backup who has tortured the Penguins this year, Patrick Lalime -- Pittsburgh went out and played a solid game in defeating the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2.

Defenseman Sergei Gonchar scored his 200th career goal on a power play in the first period, and Pascal Dupuis added his 14th in the second period to make it 2-0 Pittsburgh.

After the Sabres got within one before the end of that frame, LW Ruslan Fedotenko tallied his first marker in 17 contests in the third to up the Penguins lead to 3-1.

Forward Derek Roy made things interesting by scoring for Buffalo with about 5-6 minutes left in the third, but the Sabres got no closer and Pens' backup Brent Johnson slammed the door in stopping 26 of 28 shots for the win.

I actually liked Bylsma's decision to go with Johnson last night. He's been getting all the practice time, and Fleury probably could use several days to get sharp in practice, since he didn't see any game action while at the Olympics.

Pittsburgh was especially sharp on the PK last night, too, greatly limiting the Sabres chances on 4 man-advantage opportunities.

In defenseman Jordan Leopold's first game with the Penguins, he had about 18 minutes of ice time and finished -1. He didn't look greatly out of place, but it's clear he needs some time to get acclimated in Pittsburgh, too.

With the victory, the Penguins stayed one point behind the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils, who beat the San Jose Sharks, 4-3, last night.

The 2 points earned last night also pushed them 2 more up on the Sabres, and vaulted them 2 ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who lost to the New York Rangers -- coincidentally, who the Penguins match up against next on Thursday night in New York.

More on Pens' GM Ray Shero's latest addition shortly ....