Nikita Kucherov took over the night, and the Tampa Bay Lightning rolled past the Buffalo Sabres 8-3 on Wednesday at KeyBank Center.
Kucherov scored three times, turning a close game into a runaway in the third period. Tampa Bay had already built a 4-0 cushion before Buffalo answered, then the Lightning slammed the door with four more goals in the final frame.
The scoring started late in the first period when Scott Sabourin finished a play set up by Conor Geekie and Jake Guentzel at 18:49. Less than a minute later, John Carlson struck on the power play at 19:38 to make it 2-0.
Tampa Bay kept pushing in the second. Brandon Hagel scored at 4:33, and Yanni Gourde added another at 13:02 to stretch the lead to 4-0. Buffalo finally got on the board with Josh Doan’s power-play goal at 15:54, then Jason Zucker cut it to 4-2 at 19:32.
The Sabres made it interesting right after the intermission when Tage Thompson scored just 33 seconds into the third period. But Kucherov answered almost immediately, scoring at 1:25 and again at 4:11 to restore control. He completed the hat trick on the power play at 14:13, and Hagel added one more at 15:06 to finish the scoring.
Carlson finished with a goal and four assists for Tampa Bay. Kucherov had three goals and an assist, while Guentzel collected four assists. Sabourin and Gourde also scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves on 31 shots.
For Buffalo, Doan, Zucker and Thompson each scored. Colten Ellis stopped 5 of 8 shots.
Even with Buffalo outshooting Tampa Bay 31-22, the Lightning were sharper on special teams and made the most of their chances. Tampa Bay went 2 for 4 on the power play, while Buffalo finished 1 for 3.
The win moved the Lightning to 12-4-2. The Sabres dropped to 8-7-3 and have lost two straight. Tampa Bay sits third in the Eastern Conference, while Buffalo is 10th.
The Lightning visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Sabres are back in action Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET against the Chicago Blackhawks.
In Other News...
Lightning Fans Got An Intriguing First Look At Sam OReilly
Sam OReillys first night in the NHL came with a little more responsibility than a typical debut. Called up from AHL Syracuse, he stepped into the Tampa Bay lineup and got a chance to play in a prominent role right away, a sign the Lightning saw enough in him to trust him in a meaningful spot as they navigated a lineup missing Brayden Point.
For OReilly, the moment was as personal as it was professional. His family and friends were in the building to take in the milestone, turning his debut into a celebration as well as an evaluation. For the Lightning, it offered an early glimpse of a young player getting thrown into the mix sooner than expected, with more of his role likely to come into focus as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Kucherov Is Giving The Lightning A Massive Problem They Can't Ignore
Nikita Kucherov has kept producing like one of the leagues most dangerous forwards even as the contract situation around him has grown more awkward by the week. The Lightning wingers future in Tampa Bay has been clouded since he asked for a trade in October, a response to what he saw as a lack of communication about a new deal, and the teams front office has been forced to manage a situation that is becoming harder to ignore with each passing game.
For now, general manager Julien BriseBois says he is not moving Kucherov, which leaves the Lightning in the uncomfortable spot of trying to chase wins with a star who may be headed elsewhere after the season. Kucherovs recent performance only sharpens the dilemma, because he is still giving Tampa Bay elite-level offense while the long-term picture remains unsettled and free agency looms as the most likely ending. [Read more 🡒]
Crunch Just Hit A Frustrating Low Against Laval
The Syracuse Crunch ran into a wall Friday night at the Upstate Medical University Arena, where the Laval Rocket left with a 5-0 win and little doubt about which side controlled the game. Syracuse could not solve Kaapo Khknen, and even with a perfect 4-for-4 penalty kill, the Crunch never found enough traction to turn the night around. Their power play went 0-for-3, another sign that the offense never really got into rhythm.
Mads Sogaard got the start in net, but the Crunch had to turn to Olivier Rodrigue in the third period as the score grew more lopsided. For a Syracuse team that has spent much of the season trying to build consistency, the loss landed as a particularly frustrating low, especially with chances on special teams going unused and the game slipping away before the final horn. [Read more 🡒]