Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning Combine for 15 Goals and 102 Penalty Minutes in Thrilling Matchup

The Atlantic Division rivals delivered a 'game of the year' contender with high-scoring drama and physical play.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off in a heated clash at KeyBank Center, combining for 15 goals and over 100 penalty minutes in a game that saw the Sabres come out on top 8-7. The 24-year-old Sabres star Josh Doan opened and closed the scoring, helping Buffalo extend their winning streak to seven games and move two points clear of Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic Division standings.

Why it matters

This matchup between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division had major implications for the playoff race, with the Sabres and Lightning battling for division supremacy. The high-scoring affair and physical play showcased the intensity of the rivalry between these two franchises, which could foreshadow a potential postseason clash.

The details

In the Sunday night clash, the Sabres and Lightning combined for 15 goals, with Doan scoring the game-winner with 4:17 left in the third period. The game featured five fights and a postgame brawl, resulting in over 100 penalty minutes between the two teams. This was the second meeting in eight days between the Sabres and Lightning, with Buffalo also coming out on top 6-2 in their previous matchup on Feb. 28.

  • The game took place on Sunday, March 9, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
  • The Sabres and Lightning will meet one more time during the regular season on April 6, 2026 in Buffalo.

The players

Josh Doan

A 24-year-old forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored the game-winning goal and had two goals in the game.

Rasmus Dahlin

A defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who had an assist on Doan's game-winning goal.

Jason Zucker

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a goal in the game.

Lindy Ruff

The head coach of the Buffalo Sabres who praised his team's hustle and fighting spirit in the win.

Kash Patel

The FBI Director who was criticized for celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team after their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously it's exciting, but at the same time, I've been put in an opportunity to be successful here and help our team win. It's a nice accomplishment, but we've got 18 or 19 games to go and hopefully we can keep racking up some wins.”

— Josh Doan (NHL.com)

“I think the group has got real tight, and it showed tonight. They answered every call, they were there at every play. ... Just how hard we worked to get back in the game. There was no quit. The desire to finish this thing the right way, I thought every guy was on board.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres (NHL.com)

What’s next

The Sabres and Lightning will meet one more time during the regular season on April 6, 2026 in Buffalo, which could have major implications for the Atlantic Division standings and playoff seeding.

The takeaway

This thrilling matchup between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division showcased the intensity of their rivalry, with the Sabres and Lightning combining for 15 goals and over 100 penalty minutes in a game that could foreshadow a potential postseason clash between these two powerhouses.