The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-7 in a game on March 8, 2026. After half the game, the Sabres had a 4-1 lead. In the third period, Tampa turned it around to 6-4, including two goals by Nikita Kucherov.
Josh Doan scored the decisive 8-7 goal on a power play. Sam Carrick scored his first goal since being traded from the New York Rangers to Buffalo on Friday. A total of 102 penalty minutes were assessed and five major fights broke out.
Rasmus Dahlin got into a fight with Darren Raddysh. Rasmus Dahlin completed his first career Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, and a fight). Noah Östlund contributed an assist and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
'I have never experienced anything like this,' says Rasmus Dahlin. 'But it was a fantastic team effort by us. Even when they had turned it to 7-5, we yelled at each other in the box that we can fix this.
Then we did it. ' 'You see a bit of swollen faces in the locker room, that makes me smile. It's my kind of hockey,' says coach Lindy Ruff.
With the win, Buffalo takes first place in the Atlantic Division.