In a game that kicked off a critical seven-game road trip across the country as the Pittsburgh Penguins try to climb back into a playoff spot, they rode an efficient power play and strong goaltending on Friday while shedding some bad habits to down the Buffalo Sabres 5-2.

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.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been on a rollercoaster this season that has had more downs than ups. They stumbled coming out of the gate, and their season looked like it was over before it even began.

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 (17-23-5) fell 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins (19-20-8) on Friday night at KeyBank Center, despite a strong offensive effort that saw them outshoot Pittsburgh 42-19.

Pittsburgh played its most complete, four-line effort of the season against a stingy defensive team in Los Angeles

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.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic unofficially made 25 saves on 26 shots in a 5-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday. The result boosted Nedel

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored milestone goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated Los Angeles 5-1, snapping the Kings' nine-game home win streak.

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.

Pittsburgh goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scored an empty-net goal and added an assist to go along with 40 saves in the Penguins' 5-2 road win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.