Malkin helps Penguins send Sabres to ninth straight loss

BUFFALO -- Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who handed the Buffalo Sabres their ninth straight loss, 5-2 at KeyBank Center on Thursday.

Malkin has a 13-game point streak (seven goals, 13 assists) against Buffalo and 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 43 games.
"You try to score every game," said Malkin, who has three goals and six assists in a six-game point streak. "It's not just against Buffalo. You just try like [heck] for the team to win. I think about every game and try to play my best."
Brandon Tanev, Jake Guentzel, Anthony Angello and Bryan Rust scored, and Tristan Jarry made 21 saves for the Penguins (16-9-1), who won their fourth straight to give coach Mike Sullivan his 300th NHL win.
"Obviously it's a humbling honor," Sullivan said. "The players gave me a nice tribute after the game. I'm just grateful to the players I've had the privilege to coach over the years, especially the guys here in Pittsburgh. We've been together here for quite some time now. … Certainly I'm the benefactor of having coached some really good players."
Tage Thompson and Victor Olofsson scored, and Jonas Johansson made 22 saves for the Sabres (6-15-4), who are 0-7-2 in their past nine games.
Pittsburgh and Buffalo played for the first time this season and play again here Saturday.
"Guys are trying but obviously it's not good enough," Sabres coach Ralph Krueger said. "We're measured by results and we've got to go back at it tomorrow and nobody's going to feel sorry for us in this situation. We've just got to fight our way out of it. Nothing's coming easy, that's for sure."
Malkin took a drop pass from Kasperi Kapanen in front of the net to put the Penguins ahead 1-0 at 6:27 of the first period.
"They're developing some real good chemistry," Sullivan said. "I think they're both really talented guys, first and foremost, and when you put them together they're real dangerous off the rush. … They've just developed a certain chemistry here over time that they've been together. We really have been encouraged by it, and I think with each game they play they get more comfortable with one another. … That tandem in particular has been dynamic."
Thompson tied it 1-1 27 seconds later, using his long reach on a wraparound to slide it under Jarry's pad at 6:54 for his first goal of the season.
"It's always nice to put one in the net," Thompson said. "Obviously, I haven't played hockey in a while, coming off the shoulder injury and then being in and out of the lineup, so it's nice to get the monkey off your back and get a little bit of confidence. But at the same time, we need to start winning games. That'll feel a lot better."

Teddy Blueger banked a pass off the right wall to Tanev, who skated in and slid in a backhand to make it 2-1 at 3:24 of the second period before Olofsson tied it 2-2 at 8:46 on a one-timer from the edge of the right circle.
Guentzel scored far side from the right circle on the power play to put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2 at 11:36.
Angello pushed the lead to 4-2 from the top of the right circle at 2:43 of the third period for his first goal of the season.
"It was awesome," said Angello, who grew up in Syracuse, N.Y. "Obviously, playing in Buffalo was a little bit surreal, especially because this is close to home, to where I grew up, and these are the NHL games I came to. So finally playing in the building was awesome, and then scoring, honestly, I'd say was even more surreal, if that's even possible."

Rust scored into an empty net at 18:45 for the 5-2 final.
NOTES: Sabres forward Dylan Cozens was hit into the sideboards by Zach Aston-Reese at 2:27 of the third period and left the game. Krueger did not have an update. … Thompson played 11:57 in his first game since Feb. 25 after being scratched for seven games … Buffalo has been outscored 37-17 in the streak. … Sabres forward Riley Sheahan had an assist, his 100th in the NHL in his 537th game. … The Sabres are 0-for-13 on the power play in the past eight games. … Pittsburgh has a 13-game point streak in Buffalo (11-0-2). … Sullivan is 300-180-64 with 15 ties in 559 games in eight seasons with Pittsburgh and the Boston Bruins. He is the 50th NHL coach to reach 300 wins.