ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored twice, Evgeni Malkin also had a goal and Tristan Jarry made 30 saves and had an assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins snap a four-game skid with a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.
Jarry made his first start since being sent to the minors on Jan. 16 as Pittsburgh won for only the second time in regulation in its last 11 games.
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Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) lunges for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Wild center Vinnie Hinostroza (18) skates with the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Kevin Hayes (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea (5) pivots with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) scores a power play goal on Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates with centers Philip Tomasino (53) and Tommy Novak (18) after scoring a power play goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) attempts a goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, front right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) and center Sidney Crosby (87) attempt to score while Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) guards the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Ryan Hartman scored for Minnesota, which lost for the fifth time in seven games. In likely his last game against the franchise with which he won three Stanley Cups during 13 seasons, Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves.
Malkin put the puck past Fleury with 3 seconds left on a power play in the second period for a 1-0 lead. Minnesota has the league’s worst home penalty kill at 66.7%.
Crosby scored on a rebound midway through the third period for a 2-0 lead and later added an empty-netter.
Penguins: With the win, coach Mike Sullivan is the 14th head coach in NHL history — and first American-born head coach — to win 400 games with one franchise.
Wild: This was the first game of a stretch during which Minnesota plays seven straight at home and nine of 10. The Wild are a league-best 22-10-3 on the road, but just 14-14-1 at Xcel Energy Center.
With the game scoreless midway through the second, Minnesota didn’t move well without the puck, largely stayed on the perimeter and managed just two shots during a four-minute power play. The Wild finished 1 for 6 with a man advantage.
Fleury’s start was the 1,015th of his career, breaking a tie with Roberto Luongo for second-most in league history. Martin Brodeur started 1,251 games in his Hall of Fame career.
Pittsburgh starts a five-game homestand Tuesday against Vegas. Minnesota is home against Colorado Tuesday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) lunges for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Wild center Vinnie Hinostroza (18) skates with the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Kevin Hayes (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea (5) pivots with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) scores a power play goal on Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates with centers Philip Tomasino (53) and Tommy Novak (18) after scoring a power play goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) attempts a goal against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, front right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (67) and center Sidney Crosby (87) attempt to score while Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) guards the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills fans arrived early and lingered long after the game ended to bid what could be farewell to their long-time home stadium filled with 53 years of memories — and often piles of snow.
After singing along together to The Killers' “Mr. Brightside” in the closing minutes of a 35-8 victory against the New York Jets, most everyone in the crowd of 70,944 remained in their seats to bask in the glow of fireworks as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World” played over the stadium speakers.
Several players stopped in the end zone to watch a retrospective video, with the Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” as the soundtrack while fans recorded selfie videos of the celebratory scene. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson even jumped into the crowd to pose for pictures before leaving the field.
With the Bills (12-5), the AFC's 6th seed, opening the playoffs at Jacksonville in the wild-card round next week, there's but a slim chance they'll play at their old home again. Next season, Buffalo is set to move into its new $1.2 billion facility being built across the street.
The farewell game evoked “a lifetime of memories,” said Therese Forton-Barnes, selected the team’s Fan of the Year, before the Bills kicked of their regular-season finale. “In our culture that we know and love, we can bond together from that experience. Our love for this team, our love for this city, have branched from those roots.”
Forton-Barnes, a past president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, attended Bills games as a child at the old War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo, colloquially known as “The Rockpile.” She has been a season ticket holder since Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986 at what was then Rich Stadium, later renamed for the team’s founding owner Ralph Wilson, and then corporate sponsors New Era and Highmark.
“I’ve been to over 350 games,” she said. “Today we’re here to cherish and celebrate the past, present and future. We have so many memories that you can’t erase at Rich Stadium, The Ralph, and now Highmark. Forever we will hold these memories when we move across the street.”
There was a celebratory mood to the day, with fans arriving early. Cars lined Abbott Road some 90 minutes before the stadium lots opened for a game the Bills rested most of their starters, with a brisk wind blowing in off of nearby Lake Erie and with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.
And most were in their seats when Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked fans and stadium workers in a pregame address.
With Buffalo leading 21-0 at halftime, many fans stayed in their seats as Kelly and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed addressed them from the field, and the team played a video message from 100-year-old Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.
“The fans have been unbelievable,” said Jack Hofstetter, a ticket-taker since the stadium opened in 1973 who was presented with Super Bowl tickets before Sunday’s game by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I was a kid making 8 bucks a game back in those days. I got to see all the sports, ushering in the stadium and taking tickets later on. All the memories, it’s been fantastic.”
Bud Light commemorated the stadium finale and Bills fan culture with the release of a special-edition beer brewed with melted snow shoveled out of the stadium earlier this season.
In what has become a winter tradition at the stadium, fans were hired to clear the stands after a lake-effect storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the region this week.
The few remaining shovelers were still present clearing the pathways and end zone stands of snow some five hours before kickoff. The new stadium won’t require as many shovelers, with the field heated and with more than two-thirds of the 60,000-plus seats covered by a curved roof overhang.
Fears of fans rushing the field were abated with large contingent of security personnel and backed by New York State troopers began lining the field during the final 2-minute warning.
Fans stayed in the stands, singing along to the music, with many lingering to take one last glimpse inside the stadium where the scoreboard broadcast one last message:
“Thank You, Bills Mafia.”
AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) remains on the field to watch a tribute video after the Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Fans celebrate and throw snow in the stands after an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Aga Deters, right, and her husband Fred Deters, walk near Highmark Stadium before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Michael Wygant shoves snow from a tunnel before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) spikes the ball after running back Ty Johnson scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
FILE - The existing Highmark Stadium, foreground, frames the construction on the new Highmark Stadium, upper right, which is scheduled to open with the 2026 season, shown before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Oct. 5, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Salt crew member Jim Earl sprinkles salt in the upper deck before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
