By +Scott Leffler 
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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BUFFALO — The Buffalo Sabres lost one final game Saturday night, falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 2-0.

The Sabres held a fan appreciation night at First Niagara Center with a "Party in the Plaza" preceding the final game of the Sabres 2014-2015 season. With the win, however, the Penguins make the playoffs, ensuring it wasn't their last game of the season.

Pittsburgh's goals were both scored by Brandon Sutter. His first came at 14:23 of the second period, assisted by Blake Comeau and Nick Spaling. The second was scored at 8:26 of the third period. Danniel Winnik and Patric Hornqvist assisted.

The loss gives Buffalo a 23-51-8 record on the season. It does not affect their standing in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The Sabres came in last place in the NHL for the season, giving them the league's best odds at gaining the first pick in the draft — and assuring them no worse than pick number two.

NOTES: 

• With Saturday's loss, the Sabres fall to 22-15-7 all-time in season finales.
• The Sabres have lost six straight games to the Penguins for the first time since they did so from  Feb. 1, 2010 to March 8, 2011.
• Buffalo and Pittsburgh have now had 20 consecutive games decided in regulation. The last overtime game was a 2-1 Penguins shootout win on Dec. 19, 2009 in Buffalo.
• Nicolas Deslauriers recorded two hits Saturday and ended the game ranked ninth in the league with 261. Deslauriers was the only Sabres player to play in all 82 games in the 2014-15 season.

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