Sabres Stun Lightning in Unforgettable 8-7 Thriller

Lindy Ruff's squad rallies from behind to take down the defending champs in a wild, physical affair.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In a game that will go down as one of the best regular-season matchups in Sabres history, Buffalo overcame a 7-6 deficit in the third period to stun the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-7 in a back-and-forth battle filled with fights, scrums, and high drama. Veteran coach Lindy Ruff was beaming with pride after the game, praising his team's resilience and the electric home crowd that willed the Sabres to victory.

Why it matters

This thrilling win over the defending Stanley Cup champions has the Sabres firmly in the playoff picture in the Atlantic Division, a remarkable turnaround from their last-place standing just a few months ago. The game showcased the Sabres' competitive spirit and the team's ability to rise to the occasion, traits that will be crucial as they push for their first postseason berth in several years.

The details

The game was a physical affair from the start, with Sabres forward Brandon Hagel at the center of several heated altercations. Hagel was fined $5,000 for being the aggressor in his altercation with Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres held their own in the fights, with Beck Malenstyn getting the better of Corey Perry in a second-period scrap. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen weathered the storm, with coach Ruff praising his battling spirit despite the high-scoring affair. Forwards Josh Doan and Jason Zucker combined for four goals, while Ryan McLeod's stretch pass set up the game-tying goal in the third period.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
  • Hagel was fined $5,000 on Monday, March 10, 2026 for his actions in the game.

The players

Lindy Ruff

The 66-year-old head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, in his second stint with the team, who has built a strong case to win the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Coach of the Year.

Brandon Hagel

A Tampa Bay Lightning forward who was at the center of several heated incidents in the game, including a $5,000 fine for being the aggressor in an altercation with Rasmus Dahlin.

Rasmus Dahlin

The star defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres, who has a history of opposing players losing their cool and taking runs at him, including in this game against Hagel.

Noah Östlund

A Sabres forward who made a key play to draw a penalty that led to the game-winning power-play goal, showcasing his competitive nature in a physical game.

Sam Carrick

A Sabres forward who scored a goal and was awarded the player of the game belt, quickly summing up the chaotic nature of the contest by saying, "Boys, I don't know what just happened."

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What they’re saying

“I feel great for them. Just to see all the smiles on the faces, to see the reaction to them coming in the room, it puts a smile on a coach's face. You see a couple guys, their faces a little swollen, a couple little scrapes. It just puts a smile on your face. That's my kind of hockey.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres (The New York Times)

“He's in the battle too. He's in the battle. Our goalies have been so good for us. I didn't want to make this about the goaltender. And it's probably the same reason that they didn't take theirs out. Our goaltenders have been so good; they've been such a big part of it. I give a lot of credit to Ukko for just battling through it. Just one of those games where there's a few — I mean, you look at their power-play goal, nothing you could do about. A bunch of defensive breakdowns that, you know, not his fault. So, I just wanted him to be part of the battle.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres (The New York Times)

What’s next

The Sabres and Lightning will meet again on April 6 in Buffalo, where Hagel may have to answer for his actions in the previous matchup.

The takeaway

This thrilling victory over the defending champions showcases the Sabres' resilience, competitive spirit, and ability to rally their passionate fanbase - traits that will serve them well as they push for their first playoff berth in years and look to make noise in the postseason.