Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Ben Bishop faced just 13 shots in his first
shutout of the season and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-0
on Thursday night to split a home-and-home series.
Steven Stamkos, Brenden Morrow, Nikita Kucherov, Jason Garrison and Brett
Connolly scored for the Lightning, who had a four-game winning streak snapped
in Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout loss in Buffalo.
Bishop stopped five shots in the first period, three in the second and made
five more saves in the third for his ninth career shutout.
Jhonas Enroth gave up all five Tampa Bay goals on 35 shots as the Sabres lost
for only the second time in their last eight games.
The Lightning took a 1-0 lead 2:33 into the game when Kucherov got a piece of
defenseman Radko Gudas’ shot from the right boards and the puck bounced
through Enroth’s legs.
Stamkos and Morrow both buried shots from around the crease 71 seconds apart
early in the second period and Garrison’s slap shot from the point made it 4-0
after it hit off the post, then Enroth’s back before going in.
Connolly scored with 1:05 remaining in a fight-filled third period, Tampa
Bay’s only goal in six man advantages in the game.
Game Notes
Bishop had five shutouts last season … The Sabres remain in the state to
play Florida on Saturday … The Lightning began a four-game homestand that
continues Saturday against Columbus.
