Jason Zucker scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and the Buffalo Sabres locked down defensively in the third to secure a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
The victory moved Buffalo into a tie with Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic Division with 102 points, two ahead of the Montreal Canadiens. Both Tampa Bay and Montreal have one game in hand. The Sabres, playing their first home game since clinching a playoff berth Saturday, earned their 16th consecutive sellout and improved to 3-0-1 against the Lightning this season.
Zucker’s goal snapped a 2-2 tie with 12:22 remaining in the second period. Alex Tuch, Josh Norris and Jack Quinn also scored for Buffalo. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves, holding off a late push after a structured third period, while Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots, including multiple point-blank chances.
The Sabres’ 102 points mark their highest total since the 2006-07 season, when they recorded 113 during a Presidents’ Trophy campaign.
Buffalo returns to action Wednesday when it visits the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.