Goaltender Casey DeSmith helps Penguins edge Sabres, 2-1

Seth Rorabaugh
Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 9:34 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 1, 2021 9:34 p.m.

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AP

Penguins goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save during the first period of a preseason game against the Sabres on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

AP

Sabres defenseman Henri Jokinharju (10) and Penguins forward Sam Poulin (22) battle for position during the second period of a preseason game Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

AP

Sabres forward Matej Pekar, left, and Penguins forward Jordy Bellerive fight during the first period of a preseason game Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped all 11 shots he faced and helped the Pittsburgh Penguins claim a 2-1 preseason win on the road against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday at KeyBank Center.

The Penguins got their first goal of the preseason 16 minutes, 46 seconds into regulation. Controlling the puck on the right half wall of the offensive zone, forward Valtteri Puustinen fed a pass to the right circle for forward Dominik Simon. Lifting a backhander, Simon beat goaltender Craig Anderson’s blocker on the far side.

As planned, DeSmith was replaced by reserve Louis Domingue midway through the game. Taking over at 10:30 of the second period, Domingue made 20 saves on 21 shots.

The Sabres tied the score with some luck at 14:40 of the second when forward Tage Thompson collected his first goal of the preseason on a power-play opportunity.

Only 53 seconds later, the Penguins reclaimed a lead 2-1. Controlling the puck at the right point of the offensive zone, defenseman Mitch Reinke fired a wrister that was denied by Anderson. The puck deflected to the right of the crease, where forward Michael Chaput was able to backhand it past Anderson’s glove on the near side for his first goal.