NHL: Sabres shock Lightning as teams combine for NHL season-high 15 goals

Josh Doan’s second power-play goal capped a frantic third period as the Buffalo Sabres overcame two two-goal deficits to secure an 8-7 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, moving into first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Sabres, now enjoying an NHL-best seven-game winning streak, saw a 4-1 lead evaporate as Tampa Bay scored five unanswered goals, turning the match in their favor six minutes into the final period. After both teams traded goals, Buffalo struck three times in just 4 minutes and 40 seconds to clinch the comeback, improving their record against the Lightning to 2-0-1 and extending their lead in the division standings.

Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker each scored twice, while Sam Carrick and Rasmus Dahlin also found the net. Bowen Byram contributed three assists, and Tage Thompson added four assists to extend his point streak to 11 games (six goals, nine assists). Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 22 of 28 shots, while Buffalo converted four of seven power-play opportunities and also scored short-handed.

For Tampa Bay, Nikita Kucherov tallied two goals and an assist, J.J. Moser had a goal and two assists, and backup goalie Jonas Johansson made 34 saves. Other scorers included Corey Perry, Zemgus Girgensons, Brayden Point, and Brandon Hagel, with Darren Raddysh adding three assists.

The game turned physical early, with Buffalo’s Thompson slammed into the boards by Hagel and Anthony Cirelli just 4:36 into the first period. Two fights followed at center ice before the second period even began. Doan opened Buffalo’s scoring with his 20th goal at 8:26.

Buffalo extended the lead to 3-0 on power-play goals by Zucker and Tuch early in the second period. Tampa Bay responded with Perry’s goal at 7:55, followed by Tuch’s short-handed tally for Buffalo, and Kucherov’s strike to make it 4-2. Girgensons and Moser scored later in the period, leaving the teams tied 4-all.

The third period saw Kucherov put Tampa Bay ahead 5-4, with Point making it 6-4 after an own goal by Owen Power. Carrick scored 26 seconds later, narrowing the gap to 6-5. Hagel and Dahlin traded goals before Zucker tied it 7-all at 14:29. Doan’s second power-play goal at 15:43 completed the Sabres’ comeback.

The combined 15 goals marked the highest-scoring game of the NHL season so far.

—Field Level Media/Reuters