The Buffalo Sabres defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in a shootout as they move to a record of 33-36-6 (72 points). The Lightning couldn’t get the extra point they needed as they fell to a record of 44-26-6 (94 points) and now sit four points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division.
First Period
The Sabres came out flying in the first period, dominating the pace and outshooting the Lightning 9-0 through the first 13 minutes. Tampa Bay didn’t register their first shot on goal until there were about six minutes left in the frame. Just under a minute into the game, Brandon Hagel took a minor penalty for high-sticking, but Buffalo couldn’t convert on the power play, going 0-for-1 in the period. Later, at 9:35, Owen Power was called for delay of game, but the Lightning also came up empty on their lone power play opportunity.
Buffalo generated several quality scoring chances throughout the period. Tage Thompson had a golden opportunity on a breakaway but missed high over goaltender Jonas Johansson. Jack Quinn also came close after a neutral zone turnover led to a slick feed from J.J. Peterka, but Lightning defenseman J.J. Moser deflected the shot out of play. Despite the pressure, neither team managed to find the back of the net.
Second Period
Just 1:35 into the second period, Brayden Point netted his 39th goal of the season right off an offensive zone faceoff, beating James Reimer short side to give the Lightning a 1-0 lead. Point nearly struck again a minute later, creating another dangerous chance as he tried to find Hagel backdoor, but the puck drifted wide into the corner.
Less than five minutes in, the Sabres began to regain the offensive pressure they had shown in the first period. Noah Ostlund, making his NHL debut, set up Beck Malenstyn with a slick pass, but Johansson stood tall. Just 30 seconds later, Zach Benson found Thompson streaking in off the bench, and Thompson ripped one past Johansson to tie the game at 1-1. It marked Thompson’s 40th goal of the season—his second career 40-goal campaign, the first coming in 2022-23.
With 12:41 left in the period, the Lightning nearly reclaimed the lead, but Reimer turned back the clock with a highlight-reel save to keep the game tied. At 8:59, Victor Hedman was sent off for tripping, sending the Sabres to their second power play of the night. Alex Tuch had a quality look, but his shot went just wide. Buffalo managed some zone time and tallied two shots, but couldn’t convert.
Then, with 6:59 remaining, Gage Goncalves buried a chance from the slot for his sixth goal of the season, putting the Lightning back on top, 2-1.
Thompson continued to be a threat, creating another prime opportunity as he drove to the right side of the net and sent the puck across the crease, but no one could finish as it sat loose in front of Johansson. Late in the period, Point and Tuch exchanged chances at both ends, but neither could capitalize.
With 3:24 to go, the Lightning went on the power play after Ostlund was called for tripping Hagel. Though Tampa Bay didn’t score, they kept the Sabres hemmed in during the final 30 seconds of the man advantage. As the penalty expired, Hagel found himself with a golden opportunity in tight, but Reimer came up with another big stop.
In a costly mistake, the Sabres were called for too many men with just 0.8 seconds left on the clock, sending the Lightning to a power play to start the third.
Third Period
The Lightning opened the third period on the power play, but were unable to generate much offensively and failed to convert. At 2:48, Anthony Cirelli had a prime scoring opportunity from point-blank range, but he fired the puck wide and out of play.
Just under five minutes into the period, Goncalves was called for hooking after taking down Peterka. On their third power play of the night, the Sabres finally broke through—Jason Zucker buried his 20th goal of the season to tie the game at 2-2.
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At 8:25, Peterka nearly gave Buffalo the lead, but Johansson came up with a key save. With four minutes left in regulation, Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin generated chances off the rush but couldn’t capitalize. Then, in the final minute, Quinn and Benson executed a slick give-and-go that sent Quinn in alone, but Johansson denied him again. Just ten seconds later, Peterka fired from the slot, but Johansson stood tall once more.
With the score still knotted at 2-2, the game headed to overtime in search of a winner.
Overtime/Shootout
20 seconds into the period, Thompson had a good opportunity from the right circle but was unable to bury it. Peterka then had a point-blank chance not too long after. The Lightning started to put some pressure on the Sabres. We started to get some back-and-forth chances as Peterka had two glorious opportunities, then the Lightning had a chance of their own at the other end. The Sabres had one last chance as time expired; Thompson tried to find Dahlin backdoor but was unable to connect as the game needed a shootout.
Quinn stayed red-hot as he beat Johansson for the first goal in the shootout. Tuch then scored to win the game for the Sabres. Reimer stopped both shots he faced.
The next matchup between these two teams is April 13 in Tampa Bay.
