The Buffalo Sabres earned a 4–2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a game held in Buffalo on April 7, 2026.
Buffalo took control early, scoring twice in the first period, then adding one goal in each of the second and third periods to secure the win. Tampa Bay managed a single goal in the opening period—on a power play—but couldn’t generate enough offense afterward to close the gap.
This matchup carried weight as both teams are strong contenders in the NHL. The win boosts Buffalo’s position in the standings, while Tampa Bay will aim to recover in their upcoming games.
The Sabres got on the board first when Alex Tuch scored at 5:42 of the first period. The Lightning answered with a power-play goal from Nikita Kucherov at 11:45 to even the score. However, Josh Norris put Buffalo back in front with another goal at 14:04. From there, Buffalo added one goal in each of the next two periods to seal the victory.
