Penguins beat Sabres in 9-round shootout

Shootout goals by forwards Kasperi Kapanen, Bryan Rust, Danton Heinen and Jason Zucker gave the Penguins a 5-4 comeback win against Buffalo Sabres in their final home game of the preseason Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.

Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith made 23 saves on 27 shots in regulation and overtime then made six saves in a nine-round shootout to claim victory.

The Sabres claimed a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to forwards Brett Murray (5 minutes, 40 seconds of the first) and Vinnie Hinostroza (15:33) each scoring their first goals of the preseason.

The Penguins got on the scoreboard at 5:57 of the second period when forward Drew O’Connor whipped a wrister from the left circle past goaltender Dustin Tokarski’s blocker on the near side for his first goal.

Buffalo went up 3-1 thanks to forward Victor Olofsson’s first goal at 16:57 of the middle frame.

Third-period goals by O’Connor (3:54) and Penguins forward Radim Zohorna (9:58) — his first of the preseason — forged a 3-3 tie.

A one-timer off the left half wall by Sabres forward Anders Bjork put the Sabres up again, 4-3, at 12:00 of the third.

Kapanen forced overtime at 19:07 of the third period by pushing a rebound in behind goaltender Aaron Dell for his third goal.

Forwards Jack Quinn, Arttu Ruotsalainen and Tage Thompson scored in the shootout for Buffalo.

There was an anxious moment early in the third period when Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was struck by a puck while on the bench. He was absent from the bench for approximately nine minutes of game action before returning with an abrasion on his forehead.