BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Vyacheslav Kozlov scored a pair of fluke goals in the third period and Martin Biron stopped 25 shots Sunday, leading the Buffalo Sabres to their third straight home victory, 4-1 over the winless Pittsburgh Penguins.
Despite trading six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek in the offseason, Buffalo is tied for second place in the Northeast Division with a 3-2
1 record.
The only player acquired from Detroit in the Hasek deal, Kozlov scored the eventual game-winner 2:33 into the final period when his centering attempt from behind the net caromed in off the skate of goaltender Johan Hedberg.
Kozlov also threw a backhander at the net from along the goal line that hit Hedberg's glove and trickled into the net to cap the scoring with 1:59 remaining.
Defenseman James Patrick and Miroslav Satan had the other goals for the Sabres, who defeated the Penguins for just the second time in the last nine regular-season meetings (2-6-1-0). Pittsburgh eliminated Buffalo in seven games in last season's Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Penguins remained winless since trading five-time NHL scoring champion Jaromir Jagr to Washnington in the offseason. Owner-superstar Mario Lemieux returned after missing two games with a hip flexor, but still has not registered a point this season.
The 0-3-0 start is Pittsburgh's worst since 1983-84, the year before Lemieux was selected with the top overall draft pick. The Penguins did not lose three straight games all of last season.
