Buffalo Outscores Tampa In High Scoring Game
It didn’t take long at all before the Sabres got on the board in this one. J.P. Dumont began the scoring just 27 seconds into the opening period to set the tone for the game. The Lightning would strike with two powerplay goals a couple of minutes apart to take the 2-1 lead.
Dumont for the Sabres, scoring again, this time a powerplay goal with help from Daniel Briere and Brian Campbell. After the first period the game was all tied up at two and Tampa was outshooting the Sabres 17-9.
In the second period, both teams exchanged goals within a minute to make it a 3-3 game. Paul Gaustad and Vincent Lecavalier each tallied a goal. The two teams did the same thing later in the second period.
This time it was Vinny Prospal and Ales Kotalik who scored the goals, and the game was tied at four. With a minute to go in the second, the Lightning had a chance on the powerplay, but it backfired. Derek Roy scored a shorthanded goal to give Buffalo a 5-4 lead going into the intermission.
Halfway through the third, Tampa Bay tied the game with a goal from Martin St.Louis. Two minutes later, Thomas Vanek put the Sabres back on top, and the Lightning wouldn’t be able to comeback from there.
Roy scored another goal with less than three minutes left, giving the Sabres a two goal lead. Tampa Bay pulled their goalie with a minute left, but Roy finished the game off by netting his third goal of the night.
The Sabres won 8-5. Ryan Miller made 35 out of 40 stops and earned the win. Roy finished the game with four points and a plus five on the night. Henrik Tallinder and Mike Grier each had three assists as the Sabres swept the season series against the Lightning.