Core Memory Unlocked – Sabres blow lead, but come back to stun Bolts

Sub-headline: Buffalo digs deep to defeat the Lightning in an instant classic on home ice.

Score: Lightning 7 | Sabres 8

Shots: TBL 28 | BUF 42

Buffalo Sabres Goals:

1. Doan (Thompson, Byram) (PP)
2. Zucker (Dahlin, Thompson) (PP)
3. Tuch (Thompson, Ostlund) (PP)
4. Tuch (Byram) (SH)
5. Sam Carrick (Benson, Kesselring)
6. Dahlin (Thompson, Byram)
7. Zucker (McLeod) (PP)

Tampa Bay Lightning Goals:

1. Perry (Kucherov, Raddysh)
2. Kucherov (Raddysh) (PP)
3. Girgensons (Gourde, Moser)
4. Moser (Geekie)
5. Kucherov (Hagel, Moser)
6. Point (Unassisted)
7. Hagel (Cirelli, Raddysh)

Final Thoughts

The Buffalo Sabres are in first place in the Atlantic division. With around a month left in the regular season, the Sabres have fought their way to the top, figuratively and literally. This is the first time since April 2010 they’ve lead the division this late in the season.

Tampa’s game plan was clearly to intimidate Buffalo, put them back in their place, and avenge being embarrassed on home ice at the end of February. The fireworks started early after Hagel ran Thompson from behind after the whistle 5 minutes into the game. Dahlin stepped in for what would be the first of 5 official fights on the night. Hagel wasn’t done as he fought Krebs about 5 minutes later and went full on goon mode in the 2^nd.

He broke his stick on Dahlin with a cross check in front of the net. Instead of changing or getting a new stick, he decided this was a good time to try and injure the Sabres captain. While the play was going on he grabbed Dahlin who had the audacity of trying to play hockey during a hockey game. Hagel proceeded to throw multiple punches at the back of Dahlin’s head, tackle him, and throw additional punches while Dahlin was on the ice defenseless. This was a gutless, classless display that warranted an ejection and suspension. Physical play is great, particularly in an intense game with high stakes. Running someone from behind after a whistle is cowardly. Punching a defenseless player on the ice like it’s a cage match is gutless. Hagel committed both sins, but he wasn’t the only one on Tampa Bay.

The Lightning’s strategy nearly worked as they erased Buffalo’s lead and held a two-goal lead with 10 minutes left in the game after Hagel (of course) buried a rebound for a 7-5 lead.

As if the game was scripted, Dahlin ignited the Sabres comeback with a slick drive to the slot. A few minutes later, Zucker tied the game with a breakaway goal. Doan put the final nail in the coffin with the 4^th Sabre powerplay goal of the night by burying a rebound after McLeod rang it off the post.

This game had everything. Division lead on the line, multiple fights, dramatic comebacks, and a raucous crowd. You could feel the energy through the broadcast and those there have been raving about the experience.

The Buffalo Sabres are back. They have no fear and will defend each other from the gutless, spineless, bums that infest the Lightning lineup. Buffalo didn’t show up for a UFC fight, but they didn’t back down.

The Kesselring and Malenstyn fights to start the second were great, but the way every player got involved to defend each other was even better. This is a team in every sense of the word, and most importantly, they are a phenomenal hockey team. They’re building something special in downtown Buffalo, and the city is ready for it.