Sabres Fall to Lightning Again

A couple of weeks ago when the Buffalo Sabres played in Tampa Bay they played perhaps their best period all season when they outshot the Lightning 16 to 3 in the first period and outscored the Lightning 1-0.  Thursday night in Buffalo the Sabres turned in what might have been their worst period of the season giving up three goals and never recovered.  The Sabres fell to the Lightning 4-1.

The Sabres played much better in the second period with a 21-8 edge in shots.  They were only able to manage one goal in that middle frame thought, but it was a beauty.  Jack Eichel scored his fifth of the season, fending off a defenseman with one arm while using another defender as a screen and shooting it thru the legs of the goaltender.

The Sabres had their chances in the third period too, but Tampa Bay clinched it when they scored into an empty net with 30 seconds left to end Buffalo's modest two-game winning streak.

That's the third time in 13 games the Sabres and Lightning have squared off already this season and they play again Tuesday night in Tampa.  Tuesday's game will complete their season series in a really odd quirk to the NHL schedule this year.

The Sabres remain home to host Vancouver on Saturday afternoon with a 1 pm puck drop.