PITTSBURGH - Vinnie Hinostroza scored the lone goal for the Sabres in their preseason finale, a 7-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Friday.

The Sabres did not ice their full roster for the game, playing without four of their top defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin , Henri Jokiharju , Owen Power , and Mattias Samuelsson as well as their top two returning goal scorers in Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner , among others. 

Pittsburgh dressed a lineup that will closely resemble its opening night group, headlined by star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang. 

Crosby tallied two goals and an assist for the Penguins, who also received goals from Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Ty Smith, and Danton Heinen. Tristan Jarry made 22 saves. 

Eric Comrie stopped 20 of the 27 shots he faced for the Sabres. 

The Penguins built a 3-0 lead while outshooting the Sabres, 13-6. 

Crosby ignited the run when he intercepted a pass behind the net and found Guentzel in the slot at the 7:04 mark. Guentzel returned the favor less than three minutes later, sliding a pass through the crease to set Crosby up with an open back door. 

Rust added Pittsburgh's third goal at 13:49, fighting his way to the front of the Buffalo net and burying a feed from Smith.  

The Sabres responded in the first half of the period, outshooting the Penguins 7-0 through 10 minutes and earning their first goal when Hinostroza forced a turnover in the neutral zone and beat Jarry shorthanded on a 2-on-1 rush. 

Video: BUF@PIT: Hinostroza skates in and snipes a SHG

Pittsburgh regained control when Crosby buried a one-timer on the power play at 10:11. Smith utilized a net-front screen to make it 5-1 with a shot from the point 1:03 later.  

Heinen made it 6-1 at the 5:30 mark. Jeff Carter battled for the puck in the corner and, as he fell to the ice, delivered a pass that found Heinen crossing in front of the Sabres net. 

Rust added to the lead when he roofed a shot with 31.9 seconds remaining. 

1. Sabres coach Don Granato said the experience of playing on the road against a full NHL lineup - let alone that of a perennial playoff contender - was beneficial to conclude the preseason.

"On the positive side, lots you can take from that game as far as preparing and helping you prepare for the season ahead," he said. "… I thought tonight it was really obvious and evident to our guys that [Pittsburgh] paid attention to the details and executed some of the details much, much better than we did and obviously the game gets away from you when you don't do that. 

"So, good, negative experience without costing you a regular season game. I mean, there's a lot you can take from this that will help you prepare for the next one."

2. The experience should be particularly beneficial for young players. Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka both played five of six preseason games, which Granato said was vital for the two forwards as they transition from strong AHL campaigns to playing in the NHL as rookies. 

Peterka tied for the team lead with three shots in 14:36 against the Penguins.

"Very important for JJ and Quinner to play games," Granato said. "They played almost the whole year in the American Hockey League last year. It's a different level. This game here was a different level than earlier preseason games obviously because of their lineup. And that'll be the case through the early going. 

"We're still a really young team. The negative is we will have growing pains, the positive is they will grow really fast. For all our young guys. We've seen that, we've witnessed that, we need to stay confident and comfortable in that. There's no reason not to."

3. Peterka said postgame that he felt more comfortable than he did at the outset of the preseason, specifically with his timing and puck battles.

"A hundred percent," he said. "Compared from the first preseason game I think I took a huge step. That's what I think I expected from myself before that, that it will take a little bit for me."

4. Comrie played two preseason games and stopped 47 of 58 shots. Both of his starts were on the road behind relatively inexperienced lineups, conditions that Granato said the veteran goaltender embraced in preparation for the regular season. 

"Typically, the visiting team doesn't have as strong a lineup," Granato said. "And he phrased it that way. He goes, 'This is what I want. I would rather have a tougher game than an easier game.' So, that shows you his mentality."

5. The Sabres finished the preseason 4-2-0. More importantly, the objective of training camp was continue on the trajectory of improvement that began last season.

"I'm excited," Rasmus Asplund said. "I think the whole city of Buffalo should be excited for what we have going on here in the locker room and as an organization. I think we really got something good going on here and I think everybody should be really excited because we got something good going on."

The Sabres open the 2022-23 season at KeyBank Center next Thursday, October 13 against the Ottawa Senators. 

Tickets are on sale now starting at $27.  

The team will hold a pregame Party in the Plaza beginning at 4 p.m., when players arrive and greet fans as they walk the Blue & Gold Carpet into KeyBank Center. There will be music from The Strictly Hip, hockey activities, and appearances from Sabres alumni. 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The first 12,000 fans will receive a commemorative flag (pictured below).

Tweet from @BuffaloSabres: Our Home Opener is only ONE WEEK AWAY! The first 12,000 fans at the game will receive this flag ������

Find more information on opening night here.  

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