3 takeaways: Penguins penalty kill continues to struggle

Three takeaways from a 6-3 Penguins loss at Buffalo on Wednesday night:

PK problems

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ penalty kill continued to struggle during a 6-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.

The Sabres’ second goal of the contest was a power-play score by forward Tage Thompson at 3:21 of the third period.

It marked the ninth game this season the Penguins allowed an opposing power-play goal in 11 games.

For the season, the Penguins’ penalty kill has a success rate of 71.1%, the 28th best in the 32-team NHL.

“We’ve just got to do a better job of pressuring (the opposition) in (the defensive) zone,” Penguins forward Brock McGinn said Tuesday morning. “Sometimes, we give them too much time and space. We’ve just got to go out there and work and make sure, when we have the chance, make sure we clear it. And just go out there and outwork them.”

Letang returns to lineup

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup after missing one game due to an undisclosed injury. He logged 23:24 of ice time on 25 shifts and had one shot on three attempts while blocking three shots. Letang also recorded the primary assist on a breakaway power-play goal by forward Jake Guentzel eight seconds into the third period.

In his last five games, Letang has been on the ice for six goals against and no goals for in five-on-five play.

Archibald makes impact

Penguins forward Josh Archibald scored the second goal of the contest at 5:50 of the second period.

In 11 games this season, Archibald, who is in his second tenure with the Penguins, has three goals. During his first tenure with the Penguins between 2015-17, Archibald had three goals in 14 games.