A rude awakening
PITTSBURGH — The streets lining Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena are draped with banners celebrating the Penguins' first playoff appearance in six years. The Buffalo Sabres gave the home team a reminder of what it takes to win in the postseason.
The Sabres clinched the Northeast Division and wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 27 years, slowing Pittsburgh's rush to the postseason with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.
In a possible playoff preview, Thomas Vanek scored his 40th and Jason Pominville scored slightly more than a minute later in the third period to put the Sabres up by three in only their fourth victory in Pittsburgh in 10 years. They had been 3-12-5-1 there since the 1996-97 season.
Clearly, the Sabres weren't awed by the huge sign celebrating Penguins stars such as Sidney Crosby that covers nearly one side of a building near the arena.
"We took care of the puck, we didn't make a lot of mistakes and we didn't give them a lot of opportunities," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. "We took a lot of pride in playing in our own end."
By losing, the Penguins fell three points behind Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey — a 2-1 shootout winner over Ottawa — for the division lead and second place in the conference. Both teams have two games remaining.
The Penguins also dropped two points behind Ottawa, 103-101, for fourth place in the conference and home ice in a first-round playoff matchup. Pittsburgh plays at Ottawa on Thursday and at home against the Rangers on Saturday.
