Lightning proves it's more powerful than Sabres as Guentzel strikes the game winner in overtime for a 4-3 Tampa win

The Tampa Bay Lighting on Tuesday were back channelside at Benchmark International Arena for a divisional match against the Buffalo Sabres.

For the second game in the last week the Lightning came back from behind to take a divisional match into overtime. And for the second time in the week, it was Jake Guentzel with the game-winning goal that sent the Lightning to a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Tampa Bay on Tuesday night. It was back-to-back games in which Nikita Kucherov had a 4+ game and in another exciting match for the Lightning.

Kucherov opened the scoring for both teams when he scored 10:24 into the first period on a wrist shot that was assisted by the hero of Tuesday night, Guentzel. 

Mattias Samuelsson then tied it up six minutes later, also on a wrist shot. It was an unassisted goal that made it a 1-0 match.

No goals were scored in the second period as 1-1 tie went into the third.

But then here come the Sabres as 4:08 into the third period Samuelsson scored his second goal of the night on a wrist shot assisted by McLeod and Quinn to put Buffalo on top 2-1.

Four minutes later Oliver Bjorkstrand said not so quick as he re-tied the match on his ninth goal of the season on a power play snap-shot goal to make it a 2-2 game. He was assisted by Darren Raddysh and Kucherov (second point of the night and 59th assist of the season).

But then back came the Sabres 14:53 into the third when Josh Doan scored his 18th goal of the season on a deflected shot during a power play that was assisted by Thompson and Dahlin to put Buffalo back on top once again 3-2.

Then Darren Raddysh came to the Lighting’s rescue to tie it again with less than :30 seconds to play in regulation. A slap-shot assisted by Kucherov (third point of the night and season assist No. 60) and Brandon Hagel (27th assist of the season) made it a 3-3 game, which is all the two sides needed to send the match into overtime, the second straight overtime game this week for the Lightning following Sunday’s outdoor match that went into a shootout.

It was a tight overtime, but with less than :15 seconds left to play, Kucherov got the puck in the corner next to the Sabres’ net and had enough space to slice the puck down the ice to a lonely Guentzel who went on a breakaway and ultimately took the game-winning shot that no a snap-shot goal went blistering through the net sealed the deal and sent the Lightning to victory. Along with Kucherov’s assist (4th point of the night, 3rd assist; 61st assist of the season), J.J. Moser also has the secondary assist for his 14th assist of the night.

Guentzel (one goal, one assist, two points), Kucherov (one goal, three assists, four points), and Buffalo’s Samuelsson (two goals, two points) were the three stars of the game.

Coming up next, the Lightning will welcome their in-state and Stanley Cup playoff Rivals, the Florida Panthers to Benchmark International Arena on Thursday for a 7:30PM Florida battle royale.