Analysis: Domingue & Penguins Beat Buffalo, Prospects Energetic, Struggle w/o Centers | PHN+

BUFFALO — The Pittsburgh Penguins prospects beat the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night 2-1 at KeyBank Center. Buffalo had a goodly number of regular or presumed NHL players in the lineup against Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, winger Kasperi Kapanen, and the Penguins’ prospects and minor league crew. Goalie Louis Domingue blunted the Buffalo charge and made 15 saves in the third period to solidify the win.

Buffalo’s lone goal was a power-play goal. We’ll get to that later.

The Penguins win against a superior team was impressive enough.

The negative is the minor league players, and prospects version of the Penguins lineup continues to struggle to generate any real offensive continuity or sustained presssure. However, that cannot be laid entirely on the Penguins prospects, but rather on the lineup construction by head coach Mike Sullivan and the absolute lack of center depth in the organization. Perhaps the only player in the Penguins lineup on Friday night who will play center this season was Michael Chaput.

He scored the game-winning goal later in the second period on a backhand rebound.

Radim Zohorna played center, as did Drew O’Connor. Both project as wingers at the NHL level. Anthony Angello centered the fourth line with Jordy Bellerive and Kyle Olson.