Crosby, Conklin lead Penguins past Buffalo

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ty Conklin, in the minors a month ago, won his fourth in a row and Sidney Crosby set up both Pittsburgh goals to help the Penguins beat the weary Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Saturday night.

In the front end of a back-to-back series that ends with Tuesday’s much-hyped Winter Classic outdoor game before the largest crowd in NHL history in Buffalo, this was no classic despite strong goaltending by Conklin and Buffalo’s Ryan Miller.

Conklin, a Buffalo backup briefly last season, made 26 saves in his second win in three days and his first shutout since Jan. 3, 2006, with Edmonton against Chicago.

Colby Armstrong and Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins, who won their third in a row and 12th in 17 games since they were a season-worst 8-11-2 six weeks ago. Malkin scored his 15th goal, into an open net with 21.2 seconds remaining after Miller turned aside 23 of 24 shots. Miller made 34 saves Friday as Buffalo lost to New Jersey 2-1 in a shootout.

The victory came at a cost: Gary Roberts, the Penguins’ 41-year-old forward, broke his left leg after becoming tangled with Buffalo’s Tim Connolly in the left circle midway through the second period and both went to the ice awkwardly. The Penguins are uncertain how long Roberts will be out.