Bolts make it eight straight with shootout win over Sabres

Tampa Bay's current eight-game winning streak is proving they can win in a variety of fashions.
With their offensive firepower, the Lightning have shown they can quickly overwhelm their opponents. But, as they did in Thursday's 2-1 shootout victory over the Sabres, the Lightning are fully capable of winning tight, low scoring affairs as well.

For most of Thursday's game, the Lightning struggled to crack Buffalo goaltender Carter Hutton. The Bolts generated plenty of dangerous scoring chances but either missed the net or had their shots saved by Hutton.
It was Buffalo that struck first, with Rasmus Dahlin scoring his seventh goal of the season late in the first period. Dahlin fired a shot from the point that deflected off a Lightning defender and past Andrei Vasilevskiy to open the scoring.

Tampa Bay would equalize midway through the second period. Nikita Kucherov finished off a two-on-one feed from Tyler Johnson for his 30th goal of the year to tie the game at one. The goal gives Kucherov 100 points on the season, making him the first player in the League to reach that mark this season.
With the game tied in the third period, both teams tightened up defensively. The Bolts and Sabres only combined for 13 shots on goal in the final period.
In overtime, the Lightning had most of the possession but once again couldn't beat Hutton. Their best chance came after Victor Hedman was stopped on a partial breakaway and the puck fell right to Kucherov in the slot. Hutton was up to the challenge though, making the save.
Steven Stamkos and Kucherov both scored for the Bolts in the shootout and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped both of the shots he faced to secure both points for Tampa Bay.
Although he wasn't challenged as much as Hutton, Vasilevskiy was strong in net for the Bolts. Vasilevskiy stopped 29 shots, including all six he faced with the Lightning killing a penalty.

The Lightning will now have a three-day break before hosting the Kings in the finale of the homestand on Monday night.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
BUF | 18:13 Rasmus Dahlin (7) - Zach Bogosian, Jack Eichel
2nd Period
TBL | 11:10 Nikita Kucherov (30) - Tyler Johnson
3rd Period
No Scoring
Overtime
No Scoring