The last time the Tampa Bay Lightning played the Sabres six weeks ago, they ended Buffalo’s ten-game winning streak. At that time the Sabres led the Atlantic division. Since then, the Bolts had a streak of their own, picking up points in 16 straight- good enough for first in the league- while Buffalo struggled mightily.
Linus Ullmark starting opposite Louis Domingue wasn’t the only difference from that previous meeting. The Sabres had a completely different narrative surrounding them entering tonight’s contest, having fallen into the final wildcard spot in the East. Meanwhile Tampa Bay hoped to start off their road trip strong, and continue a magnificent segment of their season.
Still an All-Star to the Lightning
Less than two days after not being named an NHL All Star in the Last Man In vote, Brayden Point took just 26 seconds to make a case for why he should have been. Ironically, he scored against the Sabres, whose left winger Jeff Skinner was named the Atlantic’s final representative instead. Point has been performing as an all star on this Lightning team all season long, and buried off an offensive zone face off win by Tyler Johnson and a quick ensuing feed from Nikita Kucherov to put Tampa Bay up 1-0.
PK Comes in Clutch in the First
The Sabres began to gain some traction in the game just moments after the Bolts opened the scoring. Rasmus Dahlin made a nifty move at the point and fed Sam Reinhart, who missed a near-open net, but drew a cross check on Braydon Coburn. The Lightning responded with a great kill, thanks to some gritty work from Yanni Gourde and a Louis Domingue stop on Skinner.
However, just moments later, Reinhart redeemed himself by tying the game at 1.
Tampa Bay then got into some serious penalty trouble, but again pulled through on the PK. With 33 seconds left in a Stamkos penalty, Gourde took one of his own. The Bolts killed off a portion of a five-on-three and two more penalties nearly seamlessly, with the most dangerous chance being a Jeff Skinner shot that glanced off the outside of the post.
While looking at a box score may make it seem like the Lightning were dominated in the first period, being outshot 16-6, they did kill three penalties, and the majority of the Buffalo shots came from the perimeter.
Unable to Escape the Period
After all the penalties and successful kills, the Bolts surely would have been satisfied going to the locker room at 1-1. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, Buffalo opened up a 3-on-1 and a tough bounce off Coburn’s stick resulted in Tage Thompson giving the Sabres a 2-1 lead with just ten seconds left in the period.
Even Strength, Even Game
Though the Sabres weren’t necessarily all over Tampa Bay in the first despite drawing three penalties, they were the better team after the Point goal-quicker to pucks and creating some odd man rushes. In the second, the Lightning were able to stay out of the box, and it paid off. The second frame was a very tight-checking, highly contested period. There wasn’t much room out there, but the Lightning sure have some players who know how to create it. Mikhail Sergachev made a fantastic move to beat Vladimir Sobotka at the blueline, then cut to the front of the net and fed a waiting Ondrej Palat. He put it home to score the period’s only goal. It was 2-2 after two.
Immediate Response
Less than six minutes into the third, Marco Scandella joined the rush and slid one five hole on Domingue. The Bolts didn’t waste any time tying the game back up. Stamkos made a strong steal of the puck in the offensive zone and fed Kucherov, who wired it past Ullmark.
Dynamic Duo
Kucherov was one of the best players on the ice in the first period, despite a generally-sluggish Lightning start. Jon Cooper recognized that and started giving him more and more ice time, double shifting him. He was on the ice with Stamkos to create the 3-3 goal, and the two got out together again during a four-on-four situation. A lethal combination of speed, the pair burst in on the rush and Kucherov took a pass from Stamkos and wired it far-side. The Lightning took a 4-3 lead with just over five minutes left.
Welcome back, and Welcome Home
Ryan Callahan polished off a 5-3 win for Tampa Bay, slamming in a power play goal in his first game back from injury, just down the road from his childhood home in Rochester. He was all smiles. A great moment for Callahan, and a fantastic road win for the Lightning, who rattled off three consecutive goals in the third period.
Our Three Stars of the Game
- Nikita Kucherov- Kucherov earned every minute of the extra ice time tonight, creating all kinds of quality chances and adding a goal and two assists.
- Steven Stamkos- A goal and an assist for the Tampa Bay captain, who manufactured many chances with his speed in this contest.
- Louis Domingue- Domingue quietly went about his business and made 33 saves in a strong road performance.
Up Next
The Lightning will travel to Brooklyn tonight before finishing a back-to-back against the Islanders tomorrow at 7PM ET.
