Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres scored five-straight goals, including a pair on special teams to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center.
The Lightning took a 1-0 lead over Buffalo midway through the opening period thanks to their second power play chance of the frame. Brayden Point was able to unleash a one-time chance in the slot with Rasmus Dahlin in the penalty box for hooking.
Buffalo's first goal of the game also came on the power play and tied the score, 1-1, late in the opening stanza. Rasmus Dahlin was able to keep the puck in the offensive zone and feed Tage Thompson with a cross-ice pass. Thompson's 42nd goal of the year came with just under four minutes to go in the period.
Each team was credited with 13 shots on goal in the first period. Dahlin was on the ice for nearly seven minutes in the frame for his first game back after missing the last three due to injury.
Vinnie Hinostroza added his second goal in less than a week thanks to a pass by Casey Mittelstadt. Hinostroza's second goal of the season came early in the second period to give Buffalo a 2-1 lead.
Tyson Jost extended the Sabres lead to 3-1 thanks to a bounce that went Buffalo's way. His unassisted goal was scored shorthanded with Dahlin in the penalty box for kneeing.
Jack Quinn's 12th goal of the season came with just seconds remaining in the second period. The rookie forward used a wrist shot through traffic to beat Brian Elliott with the shot.
Jeff Skinner added a power play goal for Buffalo less than a minute into the third period to balloon the team's lead to 5-1 over the Lightning. Skinner's 26th goal of the season came with Michael Eyssimont in the penalty box for holding.
Nick Perbix took a shot from just inside the blue line that was re-directed off the stick of Alex Killorn for his 16th goal of the season. Killorn then scored shorthanded with just over six minutes left in regulation to bring Tampa Bay to within two goals, 5-3.
However, the Sabres managed to hold off any late Lightning push, as goalie Eric Comrie stopped 33 of the 36 Tampa Bay shots he faced on the afternoon.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 16:15 - Tage Thompson (42) PPG (Rasmus Dahlin)
TBL: 13:28 - Brayden Point (39) PPG (Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos)
Second Period:
BUF: 5:35 - Vinnie Hinostroza (2) (Casey Mittelstadt, Dylan Cozens);
12:30 - Tyson Jost (6) (Unassisted); 19:46 - Jack Quinn (12) (Tage Thompson, Jeff Skinner)
TBL: NONE
Third Period:
BUF: 0:53 - Jeff Skinner (26) PPG (Unassisted)
TBL: 2:55 - Alex Killorn (16) (Nick Perbix, Nicholas Paul); 13:18 - Alex Killorn (17) (Tanner Jeannot, Victor Hedman)
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First Period:
BUF: 9:03 - Mattias Samuelsson (Tripping - 2 min.); 11:37 - Rasmus Dahlin (Hooking - 2 min.)
TBL: 15:04 - Nicholas Paul (Hooking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: 6:21 - Riley Stillman (Tripping - 2 min.); 11:02 - Jeff Skinner (Roughing - 2 min.); 11:02 - Rasmus Dahlin (Kneeing - 2 min.); 14:03 - Riley Stillman (Fighting - 5 min.)
TBL: Pat Maroon (Roughing - 2 min.); 11:02 - Anthony Cirelli (Roughing - 2 min.); 14:03 - Tanner Jeannot (Fighting - 5 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 8:23 - Owen Power (Tripping - 2 min.)
TBL: 0:27 - Michael Eyssimont (Holding - 2 min.); 8:44 - Corey Perry (Tripping - 2 min.); 12:12 - Mikhail Sergachev (Kneeing - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Tyson Jost - BUF
3.) Eric Comrie - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres remain home on Monday night to welcome the Edmonton Oilers to KeyBank Center for a 7:30 p.m. EST faceoff. It will be an ESPN+ and Hulu telecast, so the only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call is the Sabres Radio Network, including the flagship home, WGR Sports Radio 550.
Pregame coverage on WGR with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6:30 p.m. EST.
