National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Tampa Bay 2, Buffalo 1
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Where: Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa, Florida
Referees: Wes McCauley, Kyle Rehman
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Pierre Racicot
Attendance: 19204

Lightning 2, Sabres 1: Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis each recorded a goal an assist as Tampa Bay held on to defeat visiting Buffalo and snap a three-game losing streak.

Mathieu Garon made 13 saves to earn his fourth victory in net - and first against a team other than Carolina. Teddy Purcell and Cory Conacher had assists for the Lightning, who have won three straight at home.

Defenseman Jordan Leopold pulled Buffalo within a goal with 3:08 left in the contest on a low shot to Garon’s stick side, but the Sabres could not extend their three-game win streak. Ryan Miller turned aside 23 shots to take the loss in goal, his eighth in 27 lifetime decisions against Tampa Bay.

Stamkos netted his NHL-leading 23rd goal to put the Lightning ahead 16:01 into the contest, beating Miller high to the glove side after St. Louis found him alone in the right faceoff circle. Tampa Bay cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play at 8:15 of the second session when St. Louis one-timed Purcell's pass just below the right faceoff dot for a 2-0 lead.

Garon made a stellar stop with a little under five minutes left in the second, moving quickly to his right to deny captain Jason Pominville. Miller kept his team within two with 3:07 left in the middle frame, getting just enough of Richard Panik’s point-blank shot to keep it out.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jon Cooper, who was named the eighth Lightning coach on Monday night, met with the media and watched the game with GM Steve Yzerman in the press box. Cooper will be behind the bench for Tampa Bay’s next game on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. … Buffalo’s leading scorer Thomas Vanek, who came in with 23 goals in 29 career games against the Lightning, was held off the scoresheet. He exited the contest in the third period with an upper-body injury … Lightning LW Benoit Pouliot returned to the lineup after missing the last 11 games with an upper-body injury.
Top Game Performances
 
Buffalo   Tampa Bay
Jordan Leopold 1 Points Martin St. Louis 2
Jordan Leopold 1 Goals Martin St. Louis 1
Brian Flynn 1 Assists Martin St. Louis 1
N/A Power Play Goals Martin St. Louis 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Ryan Miller .920 Save Percentage Mathieu Garon .929
Ryan Miller 23 Saves Mathieu Garon 13
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Buffalo 14 1 0-4 4-5 17 17
Tampa Bay 25 2 1-5 4-4 15 34
Upcoming Games
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against New Jersey. The Lightning have a W/L % of .462 after a win and .368 after a loss.
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Florida. The Sabres have a W/L % of .462 after a win and .316 after a loss.