Lightning at Sabres
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning looked more like the team that reached the 2011 Eastern Conference finals in the last two games when they allowed 38 shots and one goal in a pair of home victories. Mathieu Garon, who made a few timely saves, benefited from improved defensive play and he is expected to get his third straight start in goal as the Lightning visit the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. Garon shut the Sabres out Saturday 3-0 in the first of the home-and-home series to win for the second time in nine career decisions against Buffalo. The Sabres, who have been away from home for six of their first seven games, begin a five-game homestand.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Versus, TSN2
ABOUT THE SABRES (5-2-0): Thomas Vanek was held without a point for the first time in seven games Saturday and had only three shots on goal. The Sabres’ 21 shots against the Lightning was a season low. Buffalo will be without skillful forward Tyler Ennis, who is out indefinitely with an ankle sprain. The Sabres will need more from Ville Leino and Brad Boyes, who have combined for one goal and two assists. Ryan Miller is 17-5 against the Lightning in his career and is likely to get another start.
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (3-3-2): The Lightning got 21 goals from their defensemen all of last season and have produced eight in the first eight games. Marc-Andre Bergeron, who has a team-leading nine points, Brett Clark and Victor Hedman have two apiece. Rookie Brett Connolly had a career-high seven shots Saturday and contributed an assist in his eighth NHL game. Tampa Bay must decide whether to send Connolly, who is a plus-4 with two assists, back to juniors before his 10th game or keep him and use the first of his three-year entry-level contract.
OVERTIME:
1. Miller has 225 wins, nine short of Dominik Hasek’s franchise record.
2. Boyes has played 499 consecutive games, the third longest streak in the NHL. Tampa Bay’s Marty St. Louis is fourth at 480.
3. The Lightning’s Vincent Lecavalier needs one point for 800 in his career.