BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Defenseman Paul Martin scored with 2:04 left to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Pascal Dupuis had two goals and an assist and Sidney Crosby also scored and set up Martin's goal. Pittsburgh (11-5-0) won its third straight and improved to 8-2 in its past 10 to move ahead of idle New Jersey atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The Penguins were forced to rally from behind after squandering a 2-0 lead. Dupuis tied the game at 3 by one-timing in Kris Letang's cross-ice feed with 5:17 left. Martin then scored his second of the season when his 40-footer deflected in off the stick of Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff in front.
Penguins defenseman Paul Martin said "We came out early and got those two goals, so I think we did well, but they had to answer back. They have a good team and for us to be patient, continue to work and find a way to win in the end is big on the road."
Sabres forward Steve Ott said it was a tough way for the Sabres to lose after battlnig back from an early two goal deficit to take a 3-2 lead. "For sure, you know? We all make mistakes and I think the big thing is the character to come back in that game to make it a game and continue to battle through that 60 (seconds). It's definitely disappointing losing though. We had that game; we had points. Especially when they're so valuable come the rest of the year, that's going to be a key factor."
Giveaways especially in their own end of the rink continue to haunt the Sabres. When the Sabres give the puck away other teams make them pay including the Penguins Sunday afternoon."Giveaways are there, but we're in the zone still, we can still get the puck out. I don't think they scored off a rush, they were in our zone, they were cycling. Giveaways will happen in a game you just have to make sure we play well in our zone and at that point we didn't and they ended up making a play."
Crosby set up the goal by digging the puck out of the left corner and feeding a pass to Martin.
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