After the Sabres opened the season scoring three or more goals in five of their first six games, perhaps they were due for a power outage. Enter the Tampa Bay Lightning and their unique 1-3-1 defense, which gave the Sabres fits all night.
The first period was a rather evenly played chess match, and although the Sabres seemed to get the better scoring chances, neither team really threatened to puck the puck in the net. The Lightning finally struck first (pun intended, and yes, I’m quite aware it’s a horrible one) at 4:51 of the second period, when Pavel Kubina got a seeing-eye shot through from the right point that eluded Ryan Miller. Tampa made it 2-0 after an awful giveaway by Ville Leino at the Buffalo blue line, with the puck making its way to Martin St. Louis after Buffalo’s defensemen had already started heading up ice. St. Louis had so much time that he ordered a pizza and read a Russian novel before deking umpty-nine times and going top shelf on Miller. The Sabres were able to muster just five third-period shots on goal as Tampa retreated even further into a defensive shell, and Victor Hedman iced it with an empty-netter with 1:27 to go.
The Sabres never seemed to solve Tampa’s 1-3-1 scheme. When they penetrated the zone they were able to generate chances, but such occurrences were the exception, not the rule. Tampa prevented the Sabres from attacking the neutral zone with much speed, and it seemed as if every dump-in was cleared with ease by the Lightning. The power(less) play didn’t help alleviate the situation, going 0 for 3 and generating just three measly shots. Although tonight’s outcome was disappointing – especially given that Toronto keeps winning and took over first place in the Northeast this evening with a win over Montreal – it’s nonetheless hard to be displeased with a 5-2 start that has mostly been on the road, with just a single game played in Buffalo.
The same two teams will square off again Tuesday night at First Niagara Center.
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