Sabres Defeat Penguins 5-1 With Two Shorthanded Goals

Buffalo's McLeod and Tuch score shorthanded goals in victory over Pittsburgh

Mar. 6, 2026 at 7:21am

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The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 on Thursday night, with Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch each scoring shorthanded goals. Josh Norris added a power-play goal, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson also scored for the Sabres, who have won 5 straight games. Evgeni Malkin was ejected from the game after receiving a major penalty for slashing. Bryan Rust scored the lone goal for the Penguins, who were without captain Sidney Crosby due to a lower-body injury.

Why it matters

The Sabres' shorthanded goal-scoring ability and strong road performance have been key factors in their recent surge, while the Penguins' loss of Malkin and Crosby to injuries raises concerns about their ability to maintain their playoff positioning in the competitive Eastern Conference.

The details

McLeod and Tuch scored the Sabres' two shorthanded goals, with McLeod now leading the league with 5 shorthanded goals this season. Norris, Power, and Samuelsson also found the back of the net for Buffalo. Malkin was ejected from the game after receiving a major penalty for slashing Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Rust scored the lone goal for the Penguins, who have now lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time since January.

  • The incident with Malkin occurred 38 seconds into the second period.
  • Norris scored the go-ahead goal for the Sabres on the power play at 4:10 of the second period.
  • Tuch extended the Sabres' lead with a goal at 6:18 of the second period.
  • Power gave the Sabres a 4-1 lead with 9:30 remaining in the second period.

The players

Ryan McLeod

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who leads the NHL with 5 shorthanded goals this season.

Alex Tuch

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a shorthanded goal in the game, extending his point streak to 4 games.

Evgeni Malkin

A veteran center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who was ejected from the game after receiving a major penalty for slashing.

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins who is currently out with a lower-body injury.

Bryan Rust

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored the team's lone goal in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Sabres will host the Nashville Predators on Saturday, while the Penguins will continue their three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Sabres' shorthanded goal-scoring ability and strong road performance have been key factors in their recent surge, while the Penguins' loss of key players like Malkin and Crosby to injuries raises concerns about their ability to maintain their playoff positioning in the competitive Eastern Conference.