The Tampa Bay Lightning showcased their resilience with a thrilling 6-5 comeback win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. The victory, while far from aesthetically pleasing, marked the Lightning's 10th win in their last 11 games, propelling them within one point of the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division and just three points behind the division-leading Panthers. With a current record of 37-21-4, Tampa Bay has impressively gone 11-1-1 in their past 13 matchups.
Lightning winger Jake Guentzel, who netted his seventh career hat trick and second of the season, emphasized the importance of securing victories in various ways as the season progresses. “You’ve got to win games different ways down the stretch and in the playoffs,” Guentzel stated. “Obviously, the coaches might not like it, but whenever you can win a game like this and get two points, it’s huge.”
The winning goal came in the third period from trade-deadline acquisitions Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde, who effectively crowded the net. Bjorkstrand capitalized on a loose puck, breaking a tense 5-5 tie. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper acknowledged the challenges of winning in such a chaotic game, noting, “It’s a hard league to win, and those ones are tough when you give up five goals and still come away with the win.”
Complicating matters for the Lightning, the team played the majority of the game with only five defensemen after Victor Hedman exited early in the first period. Hedman left the ice just 6:27 into the game and did not return. Cooper provided no updates on Hedman's status for Saturday's upcoming game against the Boston Bruins, stating he will be reevaluated on Friday.
During the game, star player Nikita Kucherov found himself on the bench after allowing a goal that put the Sabres ahead 5-3 late in the second period. Cooper clarified that Kucherov’s absence from the ice was not a punishment but rather a necessary reset for the top line and the entire team, which was struggling with puck management. “I wouldn’t read a whole ton into that,” Cooper remarked, explaining the unfortunate timing surrounding Kucherov’s shift.
Interestingly, while Kucherov was sidelined, the Lightning scored two quick goals, both from Guentzel, within just 63 seconds. Guentzel's first goal came from a forced turnover and an impressive play in front of the net. His second goal, a one-timer from the right dot, tied the game, prompting hats to fly onto the ice.
Cooper utilized the synergy between Gourde and Bjorkstrand, both of whom had previously skated together in Seattle, placing them on a line with rookie Gage Goncalves. This trio faced challenges during the game, being on the ice for two of Buffalo's even-strength goals. However, after Kucherov returned for the third period, he quickly contributed to the winning goal as he fired a shot on net while Gourde and Bjorkstrand crashed the crease. Bjorkstrand was able to secure the puck and score the decisive goal.
“I was just trying to stay around the net,” Bjorkstrand recounted. “I saw Kucherov had the puck, so I figured something would probably happen.” Gourde added, “I want to be around the paint and help create some stuff around the paint. I was so excited for Oliver to get that goal. He played a really good game.”
Andrei Vasilevskiy showcased his skills by stopping all 13 shots he faced in the third period, but the game intensified in the final moments as the Sabres mounted a 6-on-4 power play with 1:56 left, followed by a 6-on-3 for the last 17 seconds. Defenseman Erik Cernak made a critical play, blocking a one-timer from Tage Thompson, which sealed the Lightning’s victory.
“It’s the want to win, and that’s what you want to see in your players,” Cooper stated, praising his team's determination. “You’re begging for that to happen, but you’re just like, please get up. But that was a big play for us.”
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