Sabres 4, Lightning 2
Thomas Vanek recorded his seventh career hat trick and Tim Connolly collected a goal and two assists as the Buffalo Sabres closed in on a playoff spot with a 4-2 home win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
The win for the Sabres (41-29-10) dents ninth-place Carolina’s bid to surpass Buffalo for an Eastern Conference playoff berth. With two games remaining, seventh-place Buffalo is now five points ahead of the Hurricanes and can clinch a playoff berth if Carolina loses to the Central Division champion Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.
For their part, the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated with the Sabres' victory.
The loss kept Tampa Bay (44-25-11) in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Ryan Malone opened the scoring for the Lightning in the first period, but Vanek replied later in the session and at eight minutes into the second period to give the Sabres the lead. Connolly scored later in the second to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead entering the third period.
Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier returned to action after being pulled from Sunday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks following a high-stick to the face. Lecavalier scored 17 seconds into the third period to cut the Buffalo lead to 3-2. Vanek added an empty-net tally to secure the hat trick.
Starting his fourth game in a row in place of the injured Ryan Miller, Jhonas Enroth stopped 23 shots for Buffalo.
Dwayne Roloson made 20 saves for the Lightning.