In a game that kicked off a critical seven-game road trip across the country as the Pittsburgh Penguins try to climb back into a playoff spot, they rode an efficient power play and strong goaltending on Friday while shedding some bad habits to down the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins finding themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas has to decide who to keep and let go.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen wasn't able to bail out the Sabres when they began to make mistakes in the second period. Their starting goalie was outplayed by Penguins backup Alex Nedeljkovic, as Pittsburgh scored four consecutive goals and held on for a 5-2 win in KeyBank Center.

Alex Nedeljkovic became the second goaltender in Pittsburgh Penguins history to score a goal during a 5-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. His score came on an empty net at 17:18 of the third period.

Buffalo recorded a season-high 42 shots in the loss. A rough second period, with six penalty minutes and three goals allowed, sank the Buffalo Sabres as they lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday at KeyBank Center.

The Buffalo Sabres fell 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday to conclude a three-game homestand at KeyBank Center. The Sabres led 42-19 in shots and gained an early lead on Owen Power’s ...

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Matt Nieto each suffered injuries during a 4-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Beyond a posting on one of the team’s social media accounts acknowledging Malkin’s ailment,

The Penguins fail to stay hot in California, getting outclassed in a 5-1 loss against the Ducks in Anaheim on Thursday.

Owen Power and Zach Benson scored for Buffalo ... went 1 for 4 against the Penguins.Penguins: Pittsburgh pulled three points behind Boston for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Even though the Penguins are currently seven points out of a wild card spot, they're a hot streak away from getting themselves right back in the playoff race. And losing Grzelcyk may be pretty detrimental to their power play, which is one of the only things giving the season any hope at this point.

The Penguins forward left Saturday's game against the Kraken with a lower-body injury after colliding with Chandler Stephenson.

A nothing sort of play became a goal against after two, if not three, Pittsburgh Penguins (20-23-8) went to the wrong spots. A 2-1 game within reach became another meandering Penguins loss.