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Pens Top Sabres 3-1, Sweep Season Series

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – It was a breakthrough night for James Neal, Zybnek Michalek.

Both players had a goal and an assist as the Penguins put away the Buffalo Sabres, 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Their goals were the first ones scored as members of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Sabres took their first and only lead at 2:47 of the first period when Rob Niedermayer drove the net and beat Marc-Andre Fleury between the legs.

Pittsburgh was held off the scoreboard in the first period, with Buffalo outshooting them 15-12.

The scales shifted back in the Pens' favor when Neal tied it at 1-1 on a wrist shot set up by Deryk Engelland and Jordan Staal at 1:25 of the second period.

Neal then picked up an assist on Michalek's goal a little more than three minutes later to make it 2-1. Michalek's slap shot from the point found its way through a crowd and over Ryan Miller's shoulder.  It would go on to serve as the eventual game-winning goal.

In the third period, Mark Letestu deflected a shot by Michalek behind Miller to cap the scoring in the 3-1 win at the CONSOL Energy Center.

Marc-Andre Fleury had 29 saves and was named the third star of the game.

The win gave the Penguins a regular season sweep of the Sabres.  Pittsburgh has also won six straight games over Buffalo dating back to last season.

The Penguins had gone to overtime or a shootout in four consecutive games and had not won a game in regulation since a 3-2 victory over Buffalo on Feb. 4.

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