The game between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night will be one for the ages. In fact, it has been nearly 40 years since the NHL has seen a game like this. According to OptaStats, this was the first game since April 25th, 1989, that the two teams would combine for 15 or more goals and over 100 penalty minutes.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Buffalo Sabres as they have won seven straight since the Olympic break and are 28-5-2 over their past 35 games. This run they have been on puts them in position on Sunday night, tied with the Lightning in points, and the winner would lead the Atlantic Division.
The game not only lived up to expectations but far exceeded them as it was a back-and-forth contest where the Sabres scored three straight to go up 3-0, and after the teams traded goals, the Lightning would score five straight to go up 6-4. However, the Sabres responded with three straight goals to close out the game and win 8-7.
In the first half of the game, though, the headline was the physicality, with seemingly a scrum breaking out at every whistle. In the first period alone, the Sabres would have 33 penalty minutes, which was five more minutes than they had in a single game all season.
A historic NHL scoring and penalty feat not seen since 1989
As noted, the last time this happened in the NHL was back in 1989, and this was actually a playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, where the Penguins won 10-7. However, that game was nothing like what fans saw tonight.
The Penguins, led by Mario Lemeiux would jump out to a 6-1 lead after one and a 9-3 lead after the second period. The Flyers made a run as they scored four straight in the third, but it never got closer than 9-7.
As for the penalty minutes, a majority of them occurred in the final 15 seconds of the game, with 71 penalty minutes called, including two minute penalty for the goalie leaving the crease.
The Buffalo Sabres haven't been in the playoffs for 14 seasons now, and that drought looks like it will officially end this season. However, there is a case to be made that the way this game was played, their drought might have ended on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.