Goals & Fights
Sabres 8 – Lightning 7 If goal production and pugilism are your thing then last night’s game was tailored specifically for you, and then some.
During the first period Buffalo on the power play scored the game’s first goal, while having to thwart an overly physical and dirty Tampa Bay “Charlestown Chiefs” team, both teams combined for 70 PIMS during the first period of play, 33 Sabres penalties and 37 penalties for the Lightning causing the first period to take nearly an hour to complete.
The second period began with two fights as soon as the puck was dropped one right after another and during the second match Sabres (LW) Malenstyn put Lightning (RW) Perry down to the ice with a “body shot” that was reminiscent of Bruce Lee all the while the sell-out home crowd was on its feet cheering lustily.
Unfortunately, the goon style of play did not end as another Lightning player jumped on our Captain (D) Dahlin punching him in the head multiple times only a couple of minutes after the first two fights, eventually the Sabres took a 4-1 lead the results of Sabres (RW) Tuch scoring shorthanded making Buffalo the number one shorthanded scoring team in the NHL with 10 goals on the season, the period quickly fell into a 4-4 tie before heading into the third period.
The third period was unbelievable as the Lightning scored twice to take the 6-4 lead in the first six minutes but 20 seconds after Tampa Bay scored their sixth goal, Sabres newest addition (C) Carrick who only played 10 shifts for six minutes scored a goal to get Buffalo within one goal 6-5, he also accumulated three shots, three hits, and one take away while having a fight, and winning seven out of nine faceoffs for Buffalo.
The three Lightning goons that should have been ejected earlier in the game combined for Tampa Bay’s seventh goal taking the 7-5 lead but one minute and 15 seconds after that goal Sabres Captain (D) Dahlin scored putting Buffalo back within one goal then a few minutes later (LW) Zucker scored his 16th assisted by a beautiful setup from (C) McLeod to tie the game at seven.
Tampa Bay and former Buffalo (C) Girgensons earned a slashing penalty at the 15:03 mark of the third period affording Sabres (RW) Doan the opportunity to score his second (20th, 21st) goal of the game forty seconds into the power play giving Buffalo the 8-7 lead with four minutes and 17 seconds remaining in the game that the Sabres gloriously killed off.
Currently sitting atop of the Eastern Division, the Sabres will host the San Jose Sharks led by their young standout (C) Macklin Celebrini during game three of this current five-game homestand this Tuesday night 7 pm EST here along the Lake.
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Buffalo Winter 