Game Recap: Lightning Beat Sabres 4-2 In Season Finale

BCoburn2
[protected-iframe id=”cf8cdeb9fe9867526b2b5e525458f3c8-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/recap-buf-2-tb-4/t-277753022/c-51285103?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]

Brayden Point scored twice and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 in the season finale on Sunday at Amalie Arena.

Braydon Coburn and Victor Hedman also scored for Tampa Bay who went 8-1-1 in their last ten games.

William Carrier and Evander Kane scored for Buffalo and goalie Linus Ullmark made 33 saves in his first start of the season.

Tampa Bay finishes 42-30-10 with 94 points, three fewer than last season.

Thirteen of Brayden Point’s 18 goals came since February 10.

The Lightning tied the game at one at 5:59 of the second period on Point’s 17th goal. Victor Hedman earned the assist on the goal for his 300th NHL point.

[protected-iframe id=”c39c4c8a5c4a7b28f9c4d2a9439ef3d7-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/point-tips-home-hedmans-feed/t-283478702/c-51273503?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]

Defenseman Braydon Coburn gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead at 12:20 of the second period with a shorthanded goal. Alex Killorn passed to Vladislav Namestnikov to start a 2-on-1 rush and Coburn finished it with his fifth of the year.

[protected-iframe id=”264be79e4bb3c2c80cf4c819b8802a50-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/coburns-shorthanded-tally/t-283478702/c-51274203?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]

The game winning goal came with 1:24 left in the third period as Brayden Point’s centering pass deflected off of Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and past Ullmark.

[protected-iframe id=”78db524381deab6f989b5eb503de8a8e-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/points-pass-finds-the-net/t-283478702/c-51279803?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]

Victor Hedman sent a slap shot from his own zone into the empty net to extend the lead for the Lightning in the final seconds.

[protected-iframe id=”993b7249f5e87d90a060fb9569f75c16-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/hedmans-long-range-empty-netter/t-283478702/c-51280303?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]

The Lightning went 19-6-5 in the final 30 games after being in last place  in the Eastern Conference on February 4.

Bolts Quotes

“His growth has been phenomenal. It’s just a committed kid. There’s not enough guys like him.” – Jon Cooper on Brayden Point

“There was a time in early February where we weren’t relevant at all. This group found a way to be relevant until game 81.” – Jon Cooper

“I thought I learned a lot. I’m a better player now than I was at the start of the year, for sure.” – Brayden Point

“These fans are so loyal.” – Jon Cooper

“To go north of 70 points… That’s a phenomenal year. He’s put himself in the upper echelon class of defensemen.” – Jon Cooper on Victor Hedman

Game Recap: Lightning Beat Sabres 4-2 In Season Finale

Audio

[protected-iframe id=”b095c95c5587f37f7e4d29517323ad00-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316915737&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ scrolling=”no”] [protected-iframe id=”82c263822d84c333a6dc13d5b87685e2-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316915687&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ scrolling=”no”] [protected-iframe id=”9c94efae1d938bba26c998277298a6ba-114320562-46289989″ info=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316915675&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ scrolling=”no”]

Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout and please “like” LightningShout on Facebook. You can email us at [email protected].

Arrow to top