Zemgus Girgensons knows Tampa Bay well. ©2019, Hickling Images

Lightning could become one of best teams in NHL history

BUFFALO – Forty-four days ago, the first-place Sabres roared into Tampa Bay enjoying a 10-game winning streak. While they lost 5-4 and fell one point behind the Lightning, the end of their raucous run felt like the start of something special.

It seemed like the foes could be battling for the Atlantic Division’s top spot all season.

Well, since that night, the Sabres are 6-9-4. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is a stunning 17-1-1.

Yes, Tampa Bay has really earned 35 of a possible 38 points. The NHL’s best club has an 18-point lead on the Sabres entering tonight’s tilt inside KeyBank Center.

How good are the Bolts? They’re 34-8-2 overall, an astonishing mark in an age of parity.

At their current pace, they would win 63 games, one more than NHL record of 62 the Detroit Red Wings set during their 131-point campaign in 1995-96. They’re also on pace for 130 points, two less than the record of 132 the Montreal Canadiens set in 1976-77.

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has already compiled 21 goals and 72 points, putting the Russian on pace for a whopping 134 points. That would be the NHL’s highest total since Jaromir Jagr had a 127-point season in 1998-99.

Fresh off his first 100-point season, Kucherov, 25, has morphed into perhaps the league’s best player and the leading Hart Trophy candidate.

“I don’t think it’s another level, I just think it’s that’s how good he is,” Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said this morning. “We saw it last year, we’re seeing it this year. We’ve seen it for a long time now, he’s one of the best in the league.”

He added: “He’s on another level in terms of the way he sees the game and when he has the puck on his stick, usually some very good things are going to happen. He just always continues to get better. He’s working on his craft all the time. That’s why you’re seeing what you’re seeing.”

In other news, the Sabres, who lost 4-3 Friday in Carolina, had this morning off. Coach Phil Housley will address the media this afternoon.

Backup goalie Louis Domingue will start for the Lightning.

Update: Housley said goalie Linus Ullmark will start tonight, his 16th appearance this season. The rest of the lineup will remain the same, meaning defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will be scratched for the fifth straight game.

The Sabres defeated Tampa Bay here 2-1 on Nov. 13.

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