The Buffalo Sabres began their four-game homestand on a winning note, but had to overcome some challenges in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Key Bank Center on Tuesday.
The game was similar to Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders, where the Sabres could not convert on a number of excellent scoring chances, which kept a short-handed Lightning squad within striking distance, but unlike their first two opponents, who had Vezina-caliber goaltenders in Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin, Buffalo could not lengthen their lead against former Sabre Jonas Johansson, and that allowed another ex-Sabre draftee Brandon Hagel to cut their lead in half late in the second and tie the game with seven seconds left in regulation.
The Sabres dominated overtime, with Owen Power hitting the crossbar before Dylan Cozens game-winner at 1:46 of overtime.
Here are three takeaways from Buffalo’s 3-2 win over Tampa Bay:
The Sabres line juggling had the desired result
Head coach Don Granato decided to shake up his forward lines, inserting Tyson Jost to center the fourth line between Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons, and promoting Peyton Krebs to the second line with Dylan Cozens and J-J Peterka.
Jost set up Zemgus Girgensons for the Sabres opening goal midway through the first period and Krebs fit in well on the second line, as well as going 67% on draws.
"Peyton had a great game. We used him as you saw in the third period in defensive zone draws and he was really good there, with different lines. He brought energy, tenacity, and structure." Granato said. "(Girgensons) scored the opening goal and it was Jost who made a real nice play and (that line) had some good jump immediately. The first goal of the game....it's a big deal in this league and those guys were key."
Levi solid as a rock
Buffalo started Devon Levi in his third straight game and the rookie goalie made the spectacular stops look easy in a 21-save effort for his first win of the season, but after the game, the 21-year-old was not phased by allowing the tying goal in the waning moments of the third.
"Seven seconds left. Letting in a goal isn't exactly ideal, but you gotta love the adversity. Who wants to win normally? Let's make it interesting." Levi said after the game. "Let's give the fans a good time."
Samuelsson injured and missed most of the third period
Mattias Samuelsson proved to be more valuable than anyone thought last season, as the Sabres record without him in the lineup coincided with their long losing streaks.
Samuelsson suffered an unspecified upper-body injury early in the third period and did not return. Granato indicated after the game that the big Swede would likely be categorized as day-to-day but said that he would know more on Wednesday when the team practices.
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