TAMPA, Fla. — In the first period of Sunday’s home game against Buffalo, the Lightning received goals from two players who really needed them.
They scored in a span of 17 seconds, ending a pair of lengthy goal droughts.
That fast start propelled Tampa Bay to one of its most lopsided wins of the season, 5-0 over Buffalo to halt a four-game losing streak.
The Lightning had goals from all four lines.
Moments after Corey Perry snapped a 16-game goal drought by scoring 9:21 into the game, Ondrej Palat netted his first in nearly three months, putting the Lightning up 2-0. It was Palat’s first goal in 28 games.
The Lightning was coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to Boston on Friday. Despite it being their fourth straight setback, that game included plenty of positives for the Lightning. They looked at the Sabres matchup as a critical opportunity to build on those positives with just 11 games left in the regular season.
With the win, the Lightning (44-20-8, 96 points) not only snapped their season-high losing streak but also passed the Bruins (95 points) for third place in the Atlantic Division.
Tampa Bay can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Dallas on Tuesday.
Perry, whose line established the tone for the second straight game by extended zone time, circled around to the high slot. While tripping over an opponent’s stick, Perry flung a wrister past Buffalo goaltender Craig Anderson under his glove.
Palat then stepped up in the neutral zone, forcing a Buffalo turnover and starting a rush the other way. He passed to Brayden Point through the middle, and Point gave it back as Palat approached the left post and redirected the puck into the back of the net.
From there, the Lightning dominated. Deadline acquisition Brandon Hagel scored his third goal with Tampa Bay, and his 24th of the season, cleaning up a loose puck in front of the net 72 seconds into the second period.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh, playing his first game after missing the past eight with a lower-body injury, set up Nikita Kucherov with a cross-crease pass. Kucherov rifled a one-timer from a tight angle just below the right circle for the goal.
Ross Colton scored his 16th goal of the season 2:09 into the third.
Backup goaltender Brian Elliott got the start and picked up his first shutout as a member of the Lightning. He finished with 28 saves and improved his record to 5-1-1 in his past seven starts.
