Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen wasn't able to bail out the Sabres when they began to make mistakes in the second period. Their starting goalie was outplayed by Penguins backup Alex Nedeljkovic, as Pittsburgh scored four consecutive goals and held on for a 5-2 win in KeyBank Center.

A strong start became a weak finish, just as a strong effort Monday was washed away in a pond of mistakes and bad plays. The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-22-8) couldn’t find a second goal before bad plays and bad luck found them in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks (19-23-6) at the Honda Center Friday.

Forward Bryan Rust left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return as Penguins failed to muster any offense

Buffalo recorded a season-high 42 shots in the loss. A rough second period, with six penalty minutes and three goals allowed, sank the Buffalo Sabres as they lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday at KeyBank Center.

Alex Nedeljkovic became the second goaltender in Pittsburgh Penguins history to score a goal during a 5-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Friday. His score came on an empty net at 17:18 of the third period.

The Buffalo Sabres fell 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday to conclude a three-game homestand at KeyBank Center. The Sabres led 42-19 in shots and gained an early lead on Owen Power’s ...

Owen Power and Zach Benson scored for Buffalo ... and Rust made it 4-1 at 1:09 of the third. Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring ...

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust suffered an undisclosed injury and prematurely exited a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Thursday. Aside from a posting on one of the team’s social media accounts acknowledging the ailment,

The Penguins fail to stay hot in California, getting outclassed in a 5-1 loss against the Ducks in Anaheim on Thursday.

Owen Power and Zach Benson scored for Buffalo ... went 1 for 4 against the Penguins.Penguins: Pittsburgh pulled three points behind Boston for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist, and made 40 saves as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

Nedeljkovic scored when he sent the puck from behind the net down the ice and into an empty net with 2:42 left in the third.