Jake Guentzel earned a hat trick while newcomer Oliver Bjorkstrand scored the game-winning goal as Tampa Bay came back to stun Buffalo, 6-5. Yanni Gourde returned to Tampa after nearly four years with the Seattle Kraken to assist on Bjorkstrand’s goal.
The Bolts started quickly again, just like Tuesday night against Columbus. Tampa Bay recorded five quick shots in the first few minutes, and Nick Paul scored on a redirected pass five minutes in. Buffalo responded 16 seconds later when Rasmus Dahlin answered on a wrist shot over Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Darren Raddysh put the Lightning back on top moments later with a shot past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, with a third goal in 50 seconds. However, Buffalo’s Alex Tuch scored the equalizer minutes later.
The first period scoring would continue when Buffalo scored late on a Peyton Krebs goal to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission.
Guentzel takes control
Buffalo spent most of the second period dominating Tampa Bay. However, the period quickly became the Jake Guentzel show. The first-year Bolt scored less than a minute into the second period to tie the game at three.
Again, the Sabres would snatch the momentum away from Tampa Bay with two goals of their own by Tage Thompson and JJ Peterka. Peterka’s goal came after a defensive end turnover by the Bolts as Buffalo continued to press.
Despite the period mostly belonging to the Sabres and their stingy checking, Guentzel would add two more for the hat trick by the end. His second goal came on a backhanded shot through the five-hole of Luukkonen after a pass by Brayden Point.
After a scrum around the Sabres’ net, Dahlin picked up a double-minor for roughing and removing Anthony Cirelli’s helmet.
Guentzel would earn the hat trick on the ensuing power play on a pass from Brandon Hagel to tie the game again at five.
Bjorkstrand, Gourde announce their presence
After Guentzel’s second period performance, the Bolts entered the third period even with Buffalo and looking for someone to push the team through to victory.
That player was Bjorkstrand.
Less than 36 hours after being traded to Tampa Bay, Bjorkstrand and Gourde teamed up to deliver the Lightning their 37th win.
The duo from Seattle found themselves in front of the Buffalo net when Nikita Kucherov sent a shot towards the crease. Gourde got the puck redirected, and Bjorkstrand was in perfect position for the redirection and put the goal in.
“Oliver Bjorkstrand, welcome to the Lightning!” pic.twitter.com/IAlWAH9dCR
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) March 7, 2025
“I thought both of them (Bjorkstrand and Gourde) were in tough circumstances,” Head Coach Jon Cooper said. “They played three time zones away just 48 hours ago.”
“They were arguably two of our best forwards out there.”
Bjorkstrand’s goal stood up for the better part of the latter part of the period. However, Buffalo made a strong push at the end. Faced being down two men due to penalties in the final minute, Tampa Bay staved off a late rush by the Sabres. Key in that penalty kill was a blocked shot by Erik Cernak on Thompson that sealed the win for the Lightning.
“That is as heavy a shot as I’ve seen in a while,” Cooper said. “(The block by Cernak) is the ‘Want to Win, That’s what we want to see in your players.”
Three Stars of the Game
1. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay. Guentzel’s second period hat trick brought Tampa Bay back from the brink. His effort rejuvenated a beaten-down team and gave new life to the Bolts.
2. Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay. Hours after landing in Tampa from Seattle, Bjorkstrand delivered a game-winning goal to announce his arrival as a member of the Lightning.
3. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo. Dahlin had two points with a goal and an assist for the Sabres.
Up Next
The Lightning will wrap up the three-game homestand with a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Boston Bruins at Amalie Arena. Game time is at 3 pm.
