PITTSBURGH — The Buffalo Sabres, according to their schedule, had a 16-day break between

games because of the Olympics. They stretched it to 16 days and 23 minutes. The result of that

extension? Another loss.

The Sabres fell into their typical pattern of slow starts Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, then

fell into their typical pattern of falling. Buffalo dropped a 3-2 decision to the Penguins in

Mellon Arena, continuing an extended slump. The Sabres are just 1-5-2 since Feb. 1.

They had hoped to end their Olympic respite with a second consecutive victory. The negative

result cost them a chance to move ahead of first-place Ottawa in the Northeast Division

standings.

"After you have a break, you don't know exactly what you're going to get," coach Lindy Ruff

said. "We started slow, but I thought we started to come on. Overall, was I happy? No. We're

going to have to be a lot better."

Day Two of the Sabres' post-Olympic experience doesn't offer a breather. Wednesday night, they host

the NHL-leading Washington Capitals.

They'll need a better start against Alexander Ovechkin and the Caps. The Sabres gave the

Penguins nine of the first 12 shots and a 1-0 lead through 15 minutes. They surrendered

another goal on a botched defensive assignment three minutes into the second period.

They woke up and twice cut their deficit to one but couldn't complete the rally.

"They're a good team. To let up any easy [goals] is tough," Sabres left wing Clarke

MacArthur said. "I thought we prepared well during the week. You want to start off with a win

here. It's disappointing that way. I thought we did battle hard. If we can take anything out

of it it's that."

The Sabres actually had the fans' backing at the beginning. The Penguins individually

recognized Olympians for both teams in a ceremony prior to the game. The loudest and longest

ovation was given to Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who backstopped the United States to

within one goal of a gold medal.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who scored in overtime for Canada to beat Miller and the

Americans on Sunday, received some boos from the Pennsylvania crowd.

Once the game started, though, the players in black and gold had their 150th consecutive

sellout crowd back on their side.

Pittsburgh's Sergei Gonchar opened the scoring on the power play with 5:02 left in the

first period. The Penguins doubled their lead early in the second. Pascal Dupuis took a pass

along the boards and sent the puck behind the net for teammate Ruslan Fedotenko. When the

forward skated to the front, he noticed Dupuis all alone on the opposite side.

"You expect those guys to come out hard with a lot of energy here, and they sure did," said

Sabres goalie Patrick Lalime, who made 25 saves but was denied in his fourth attempt at 200

career victories. "But I thought after we weathered the storm we responded well."

The Sabres got their first goal with 6:44 gone in the second. Patrick Kaleta entered the

Pittsburgh zone and dropped a pass to defenseman Toni Lydman. His slap shot soared past the

glove of Brent Johnson, who had hard-charging Sabres Adam Mair and Tim Kennedy in his face.

"I didn't see the goalie, so I'm pretty sure he didn't see the puck coming," Lydman said.

Fedotenko gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead with 8:57 to go. Derek Roy got the Sabres back

within one with 5:39 left, but Buffalo couldn't connect on its game-tying attempts.

"We had some key opportunities to put some away on Johnson and didn't," Ruff said. "That

hurt us."

The Penguins' Mike Rupp also hurt Paul Gaustad. The Sabres' center dropped a fight to the

big winger and headed straight to the dressing room while cradling his right arm.

"Paul looks like he's going to miss a little bit of time," Ruff said. "We'll have him

evaluated [Wednesday]."