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The Buffalo Sabers and Tampa Bay Lightning entered their matchup on Sunday as two of the best teams in the NHL’s Eastern Conference and their battle lived up to the hype.
The two teams scored a combined 15 goals and earned over 100 penalty minutes as fights and goals filled the ice. It was the Sabers who ultimately beat the Lightning, winning the game 8-7.
Buffalo winger Josh Doan broke the tie with 4:17 left in the game, scoring his 21st goal of the season. The Sabres’ victory was their seventh in a row and put them two points ahead of the Lightning for the Atlantic Division lead.
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Buffalo Sabers right wing Josh Doan (91) celebrates his goal with center Josh Norris (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
“It’s obviously exciting, but at the same time, I’ve been given the opportunity to be successful here and help our team win,” Doan told reporters via NHL.com. “…It’s a good achievement, but we have 18 or 19 games left and hopefully we can keep racking up some wins.”
Tampa Bay had a 6-4 lead in the third period when Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point scored. Even as Sam Carrick cut Buffalo’s deficit to one goal, Brandon Hagel put Tampa Bay back up by two with about 10 minutes left in the game.
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin cut the lead to one and Jason Zucker tied the game with about 5:30 left in the game. Doan then scored on assists from Zucker and Dahlin.
Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Brandon Hagel (38) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
“I think the group has gotten really tight and it showed tonight,” Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff said. “They answered every call, they were there every play… How hard we worked to get back in the game! There was no quit. The desire to finish this the right way, I thought all the guys were on board.”
The game featured several fights throughout the game. Buffalo had seven power play opportunities and converted four of them. Tampa Bay had two and scored on one.
The teams had a combined total of 102 penalty minutes.
Buffalo Sabers center Sam Carrick (10) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Scott Sabourin (46) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
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Buffalo is 39-19-6 with 18 games left and Tampa Bay is 39-19-4 with 20 games left. The Sabers have 84 points and the Lightning 82 points this season.
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