Simpson, Simmer Lead Penguins to First Victory
PITTSBURGH — Craig Simpson and Charlie Simmer each scored two goals and Mario Lemieux had four assists to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to their first win of the National Hockey League season, an 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night.
It was also the first NHL win for Pittsburgh Coach Pierre Creamer.
The Penguins chased starting goalie Jacques Cloutier with four first-period goals on 10 shots, three of the scores by the line of Lemieux, Simpson and Simmer, a former King. Lemieux has seven points in three games, all assists.
Randy Cunneyworth scored at 9:21, and Simpson scored his second and third goals of the season.
After a goal by Buffalo’s Christian Ruuttu, Simmer scored his second of the season at 18:05 to make it 4-1.
Phil Housely scored for Buffalo at 1:55 of the second period, but Doug Bodger slapped in a pass from Lemieux on a power play at 8:11 to give the Penguins a 5-2 lead against goalie Tom Barrasso.
The Penguins are 1-1-1, and the Sabres are 1-2-1.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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