The Buffalo Sabres, who have already been knocked out of playoff contention, will conclude their season on Monday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite a disappointing season for Buffalo, they have managed to win two out of three games against Tampa Bay this season, both in overtime. Buffalo’s victories included goals from Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin. However, the Lightning secured a 3-1 win in the middle game of the series. Buffalo’s recent game against the Panthers ended in a 3-2 overtime loss, with goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen performing well despite the defeat. Coach Don Granato praised the team’s defensive effort despite some lapses in performance.
The Sabres, once considered potential playoff contenders, have missed the postseason for the 13th consecutive year, tying the NFL’s Jets for the longest active playoff drought in American professional sports. However, goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, at 25 years old, has shown promise with strong statistics this season.
Tampa Bay, having secured the No. 1 wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, is unable to improve its position in the standings with only two games left in the regular season. Coach Jon Cooper expressed disappointment in his team’s recent performance against the Washington Capitals, citing mental errors and penalties as contributing factors. Despite the loss, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Duclair scored goals for the Lightning, with Duclair showing strong form since joining the team from the San Jose Sharks.
