Penguins/Sabres (preseason) recap: Impressions on the opener
Lineup The Penguins have a decent enough lineup for the first preseason game. Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel and Kris Letang are among the skaters dressed. Sergei Mursahov gets the start, with the plan to sub him out about halfway through to get Joel Blomqvist some game minutes too. Not much to say about the visiting […]
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres played a preseason NHL game on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The Penguins' lineup included Bryan Rust, Ben Kindel, and Kris Letang, while the Sabres featured a more minimal setup. The first period saw minimal action, with Ryan Graves committing the Penguins' first penalty of the season.
Andrei Kuzmenko opened the scoring for Pittsburgh, assisted by Bryan Rust. Connor Dewar scored the second goal for the Penguins, capitalizing on a pass from Rust. The Penguins dominated the early periods, with shots 7-5 in their favor. The second period also remained quiet, with Kindel staying on the bench, possibly due to precautionary measures.
In the third period, the Penguins extended their lead to 4-1 when Avery Hayes stole the puck and scored an impressive goal, hitting the top shelf from a short-side position. Overall, the preseason game showcased various aspects of both teams' performances, with standout performances from certain players like Lapierre, Soderblom, and Hallander.
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