BUFFALO – Since the Sabres last appeared in the playoffs, they have played 1,138 regular-season games, none as big as tonight’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If the Sabres defeat the Lightning at KeyBank Center, they will own sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division at the latest point in a season since April 10, 2010.
Right now, the teams, having each earned 82 points, are tied for the top spot.
Over the years, the Sabres, who on Saturday defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 to extend their win streak to six games, haven’t enjoyed much of a rivalry with the Lightning.
The Sabres, of course, own an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought. Meanwhile, the Lightning annually rank among the league’s heavyweights.
But some nastiness began brewing during two recent meetings in Florida.
Last Saturday, the Sabres jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in their 6-1 victory. As the game progressed, the Lightning lost its cool. On Feb. 3, the Lightning won 4-3 in overtime after tying the game with 26 seconds left in the third period.
“We’re going to have incredible energy,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “Two teams get to play that are right next to each other in the standings. We had a hell of a game down there, and you know they’re going to be looking to come back at us for the way that game ended up.
“This is really what you would ask for. You want a team like that. You want to be able to play. I’m looking forward to it.”
So are the 19,070 fans that are expected to fill the rink. Since the Sabres began their 27-5-2 run Dec. 9, KeyBank Center has often been noisy and even raucous.
Tonight’s atmosphere could be electric.
Early in Saturday’s game, it felt like the Sabres might be looking looking ahead to the Lightning.
They registered just two shots on goal in the first period and fell behind 1-0 1:17 into the second period.
“Maybe we thought it was going to be easier,” Ruff said. “The first period, we deferred to passing up some good opportunities, missed the net on a couple. Didn’t go north in a hurry, hung onto pucks. We’re a good team when we play quick and go north in a hurry and basically keep it simple.”
The Sabres finally began doing that in the second period. Goals by center Tage Thompson, whose career-long point streak reached 10 games, and winger Jason Zucker put the Sabres up 2-1 by the 14:17 mark.
Sabres winger Josh Doan ended his six-game goal drought 16 seconds into the third period.
“It’s been a while,” said Doan, who hadn’t scored since Feb. 3. “I missed a couple tap-ins last game, so I was starting to feel it a little bit.”
After Matthew Wood scored a power-play goal at 16:08 with goalie Juuse Saros off for the extra attacker, one of the Sabres’ additions before Friday’s trade deadline paid immediate dividends.
Sam Carrick, a right-handed center whose faceoff prowess enticed the Sabres to deal two draft picks to the New York Rangers for his services, won two defensive-zone draws against Ryan O’Reilly to goalie Alex Lyon’s right side to close the game.
“Those last two were big draws for us,” Ruff said.
O’Reilly annually ranks among the NHL’s faceoff percentage leaders.
“It’s great to have that trust from the coaches, for sure,” Carrick said. “… I’m glad I won those, because if I lost them, I don’t know what would’ve happened. It was just a good win.”
Carrick won four of his eight draws and skated 8 minutes, 55 seconds, mostly between Zach Benson and Beck Malenstyn. The newcomer also killed penalties.
“Early on in the game, I was actually struggling in the dot a little bit, just wasn’t finding my groove,” said Carrick, who wore No. 10. “But definitely glad I won those last two. “Obviously, it’s a big part of what they want to see from me when they brought me, so to win two at the end there was nice.
“But I’ve got to be more consistent throughout the game.”
