Buffalo is on top of the Atlantic Division and showing no signs of slowing down.
Josh Doan scored twice, including the go-ahead power-play goal with 4:17 left in the third period, as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-7 at KeyBank Center on Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games. The win moves Buffalo two points clear of Tampa Bay for sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division.
Tage Thompson picked up four assists, Jason Zucker contributed two goals and an assist, Alex Tuch scored twice and Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves in a game that featured 15 combined goals and 70 penalty minutes in the first period alone.
“I think the group has got real tight, and it showed tonight,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “There was no quit. The desire to finish this thing the right way, I thought every guy was on board.”
Buffalo jumped out to a 4-1 lead through three straight power-play goals before Tampa Bay stormed back to take a 7-5 lead in the third. Dahlin and Zucker then scored in quick succession to level it at 7-7 before Doan swept in the winner off a rebound from Dahlin’s shot that hit the post.
Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist for the Lightning, who have now lost five of their last six games despite entering on the back of a win over Toronto. Jonas Johansson stopped 34 shots.
“The bottom line is, we gave up five special-team goals,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “That was the game.”
Thompson extended his point streak to 11 games, now sitting at 15 points during that run. It was also the first time the Sabres held first place in the division this late in a season since April 11, 2010, the last time Ruff coached the team.
“This game was a huge step for us as a team,” Dahlin said. “Every guy in this room stepped up when we had to. We’re brothers in here. You
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