Lightning snap Sabres’ lengthy winning streak
Cedric Paquette broke a tie with 5:41 left, and the host Tampa Bay Lightning ended the Sabres’ franchise- record- tying winning streak at 10 games with a 5- 4 victory Thursday night.
“I thought it was great stretch by us, 10 games in a row,” Buffalo star Jack Eichel said. “It shows us we can win every night we go out there, and I think that should be our mindset no matter what. That’s the confidence you build through a winning streak like that.”
Paquette beat Carter Hutton, who had won his previous eight starts, from the top of the left circle.
Ten of the Sabres’ past 11 games have decided by one goal, including seven that needed extra time. Buffalo also had 10 consecutive victories in January 1984 and October 2006.
Dan Girardi, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos also scored for the Lightning, and Luis Domingue made 18 saves.
“I thought there was a lot of momentum in that game,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. “There was a ton of swings in that game. I’m pretty sure if you’re a fan of hockey and were in the building you would have enjoyed that one.”
The Lightning takes over the top spot in the Eastern Conference and holds a one-point advantage over the Sabres and Toronto.
Sam Reinhart had two goals for Buffalo, and Zemgus Girgensons and Tage Thompson also scored. COYOTES 3, PREDATORS 0» Nick Schmaltz had a goal and an assist, Adin Hill made 29 saves for his first shutout, and visiting
Arizona Coyotes blanked Nashville. Clayton Keller and Brad Richardson scored the other goals in Arizona’s second straight victory. Schmaltz’s two points were his first since being acquired Sunday in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.
OILERS 3, KINGS 2 » Oscar Klefbom scored his second straight game-winning goal and added an assist as Edmonton edged Los Angeles. Jesse Puljujarvi and Alex Chiasson also scored for the Oilers, who are 3-1-1 under new coach Ken Hitchcock. Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick made his first start since Oct. 23. He missed 15 games after surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. JETS 6, BLACKHAWKS 5 » Nikolaj Ehlers had a hat trick, and Patrik Laine scored twice and became the fourth-youngest player in NHL history to reach 100 goals as Winnipeg beat Chicago. Laine scored his 100th and 101st goals in his 178th game at the age of 20 years, 224 days. Wayne Gretzky did it the fastest in 20 years, 40 days. BLUE JACKETS 4, WILD 2 » Riley Nash had a goal and an assist, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots, and host Columbus moved ahead of Washington for the Metropolitan Division lead. Columbus has won six of eight. SENATORS 3, RANGERS 0 » Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots for his first shutout of the season for Ottawa. Matt Duchene had a goal and an assist as the Senators won their second straight. BRUINS 2, ISLANDERS 1» Ryan Donato scored the decisive shootout goal in his return to Boston after a demotion to the AHL, and Tuukka Rask made 28 saves.