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11/24/1997 22:22 EST Penguins 5, Sabres 1 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Kevin Hatcher, returning after missing six games with an injured leg, score twice in the second period as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 Monday night to extend their unbeaten streak to five games. The Penguins are on a 4-0-1 roll that includes three consecutive wins. It is just the second time this season they have won consecutive home games. Hatcher, who hadn't played since Nov. 8 because of a bruised lower leg, scored the first of the Penguins' three second-period goals at 2:59. Dominik Hasek turned away two shots by Rob Brown before Hatcher put in the rebound from the top of the right circle. Jaromir Jagr made it 2-0 at 7:28 when the Sabres were outnumbered on a three-man rush. Jagr was alone at the side of the net and tapped in Ron Francis' pass. Hatcher's second goal came on a power play at 15:24 of the period, seconds after the Penguins had managed to put just one shot on goal during a two-man advantage that lasted 1:03. Hatcher's shot from the point hit defenseman Alexei Zhitnik's stick and changed direction on Hasek. The Penguins had a three-minute power play in the third when Matthew Barnaby picked up a major and game misconduct for spearing Tyler Wright. They scored when Ed Olczyk batted in Jiri Slegr's rebound at 5:38 for his ninth goal of the year. Darius Kasparaitis scored a shorthanded goal with 21 seconds left as the Penguins outshot Buffalo 45-22. Pittsburgh's power play has scored in three consecutive games after being blanked in seven of eight. Buffalo had killed 18 consecutive penalties before the Penguins scored their first power-play goal. Donald Audette scored on a Buffalo power play at 11:47 of the second. He one-timed Jason Woolley's pass for his fourth goal in three games. Jagr's stick was challenged by the Sabres midway through the third period and it was found to be illegally curved, drawing a minor penalty. Buffalo right wing Rob Ray sat out the game with a broken right thumb, ending his consecutive game streak at 151. Ray, who was injured in Saturday's win over the New York Islanders, is expected to miss four weeks.
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