NHL MARCH 8, 2026 – SABRES SURVIVE BACK-AND-FORTH BEDLAM VS. LIGHTNING TO CLIMB ATOP ATLANTIC

The Sabres (39-19-6, 84 points) and Lightning (39-19-4, 82 points) met at KeyBank Center with first place in the Atlantic Division on the line and produced a roller-coaster, high-scoring, back-and-forth affair that concluded with a crucial Buffalo regulation win and the club’s first positioning among the top five in the League standings at this stage of a season or later since their Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign in 2006-07.

• Buffalo, with seven straight wins, occupy first place in its division at this stage of a season or later (1,006 GP) for the first time since April 11, 2010, when they won the Northeast Division.
• The Sabres, who built a 4-1 lead midway through the contest, overcame a multi-goal deficit within the final 10 minutes of the third period and won in regulation for the sixth time in franchise history. The others: Dec. 26, 2015, April 2, 2003, Jan. 6, 1988, Dec. 26, 1981 and March 10, 1976.

The Stars That Shone

Tage Thompson (0-4—4) led a group of seven players with three or more points en route to extending his point streak to 11 games. Sunday’s outing was just the fourth in the past 30 years to feature as many players hit the mark alongside Penguins-Sharks (9 on Jan. 13, 1996), Flames-Maple Leafs (7 on March 14, 2009) and Flames-Lightning (7 on Dec. 13, 2007).

• Thompson joined Alex Tuch (0-4—4 on Nov. 21, 2025) and Zach Benson (0-4—4 on Oct. 15, 2025) as the third Sabres skater with a four-assist game this season – the franchise’s most in one campaign since 1992-93 (6).
• Nikita Kucherov (2-1—3), fresh off an 0-4—4 outing in Toronto on Saturday, recorded his 61st career road game with three or more points and broke a tie with Peter Stastny (60) for the fourth most by a player born outside North America in NHL history. Jaromir Jagr (81), Alex Ovechkin (70) and Jari Kurri (69) round out the top three.

Fans Treated to Goals Galore

The Sabres and Lightning produced the 16th game in NHL history, and 10th in the expansion era (since 1967-68) to feature both clubs combine for seven or more goals in multiple periods and first since the Red Wings and Blues on Nov. 25, 1992.

• Buffalo scored four power-play goals in a game, highlighted by Josh Doan’s go-ahead tally with 4:17 remaining in regulation, for the fourth time in the past 20 years.
• Tuch scored Buffalo’s NHL-best 10th shorthanded goal of the season and one of his team’s five special-teams tally of the game – tied for the franchise’s most in a single outing in since 1995-96, alongside Nov. 8, 2011 (5 vs. WPG) and March 30, 2007 (5 vs. NYI).

MANTHA TIES GAME TWICE, PENGUINS EARN THREE-GOAL COMEBACK WIN

After Boston took a 3-0 lead just over halfway through the game, Pittsburgh mounted a three-goal comeback victory thanks to two third-period tying tallies from Anthony Mantha and an overtime winner from Tommy Novak – his second of the season. The Penguins (32-17-14, 78 points), who improved to 38-19-11 in contests without both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup (since 2006-07), retook second place in the Metropolitan Division from the Islanders (36-23-5, 77 points) and hold a game in hand.

• Mantha became the second Penguins player to score multiple game-tying goals in the third period of a game, joining Alex Kovalev (March 23, 2002 vs. PHI). He improved his point totals to 23-24—47 (63 GP) to tie Malkin (13-34—47) for second in team scoring behind only Crosby (27-32—59) and moved within three of his first career 50-point season.

McDAVID OILERS GAIN GROUND IN THE PACIFIC WITH WIN VS. GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Connor McDavid assisted on two of four Edmonton goals as the Oilers (31-25-8, 70 points) earned a crucial regulation win in Vegas against the Golden Knights (29-21-14, 72 points) and gained ground on the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (35-25-3, 73 points) , who also failed to collect a point in the standings on Sunday. McDavid, within six assists of 800 in his career, extended his road point streak to 18 games.

NEW AND RETURNING FACES TALLY ASSISTS AS COLORADO, DALLAS WIN VIA COMEBACK

Nazem Kadri (0-1—1) and Michael Bunting (0-1—1) both collected assists in their first game since being traded to the Avalanche and Stars, respectively, as both Central Division clubs claimed third-period comeback victories. Colorado and Dallas accounted for two of four games Sunday that featured a game-tying goal in the final frame.

• Kadri received a standing ovation from the fans at Ball Arena in his return to the organization and then recorded his first point in an Avalanche uniform since the overtime winner in Game 4 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
• Bunting assisted on the Stars’ game-tying goal in the third period and Miro Heiskanen scored in overtime to help Dallas extend its point streak to 12 games (11-0-1), matching the fourth-longest run in franchise history and its longest since 2000-01 (13 GP). Heiskanen scored his third career overtime goal, which tied the third most by a defenseman in franchise history behind John Klingberg and Thomas Harley (both w/ 6).

SHINE’S FIRST NHL GOAL WITH HOMETOWN CLUB

The seven-game Sunday, included the first NHL goal from Pinckney, Michigan, native and Detroit Red Wings forward Dominik Shine. Shine (32 years, 324 days), who spent time with Little Caesars and Compuware during his days in minor hockey, four years at Northern Michigan University and parts of the past 10 seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL (named captain in 2025-26), became the oldest skater to score their first career goal since Philadelphia’s Evgeny Medvedev (33 years, 96 days on Dec. 1, 2015).

SENATORS, CANUCKS ON PRIME MONDAY NIGHT HOCKEY

The week will begin with a five-game slate and a national broadcast across Canada with a Prime Monday Night Hockey showdown as the Senators (31-22-9, 71 points) visiting the Canucks (19-36-8, 46 points) for the first and only time this season. Ottawa enters with wins in its past two games and in each of its past two games against Vancouver. They sit five points out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference as they chase consecutive postseason berths for the first time since 2011-12 to 2012-13.

• Tim Stützle enters Prime Monday Night Hockey with the NHL’s longest active point streak (12 GP). He can tie the fourth-longest run in franchise history and his second longest (13 GP from earlier this season; from Dec. 9, 2025 – Jan. 5, 2026). Stützle’s longest point streak is 14 games, which is the third longest on that list.

NATIONAL GAMES ON THE RADAR THIS WEEK

Get set for the week ahead with five storylines you need to know about national broadcasts on tap:

1. Original Six Clash on Sportsnet (Tuesday): An Original Six showdown will see the Canadiens and Maple Leafs meet for the 854th time (regular season & playoffs). Montreal can win the season series for the first time since 2019-20 (3-0-0) and can requires its fewest games to 80 points in a campaign since 2014-15 (59 GP).
2. Islanders visit Blues on TNT (Tuesday): Matthew Schaefer (20-26—46 in 64 GP) will look to continue his record-setting season in the first game of a TNT doubleheader. Schaefer enters the week four points from becoming the fifth active defenseman to reach the 50-point mark as a rookie. Overall, only four blueliners in NHL history have reached the plateau in a single campaign as a teenager: Phil Housley (66 in 1983-84 & 1982-83), Ray Bourque (65 in 1979-80), Larry Murphy (64 in 1980-81) and Rick Hampton (51 in 1975-76).
3. Blues welcome Oilers on ESPN+, Sportsnet (Friday): Former 4 Nations Face-Off and Team Canada Olympic teammates, St. Louis netminder Jordan Binnington and Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, are set to clash in St. Louis. McDavid enters the week four goals from 400 and having played 776 NHL contests – he can require the fifth-fewest games among active players to reach the plateau behind Auston Matthews (628 GP), Alex Ovechkin (634 GP), Steven Stamkos (763 GP) and David Pastrnak (774 GP).
4. Bruins face Capitals on ABC Hockey Saturday: David Pastrnak and the Bruins will face Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals on ABC for the second straight Saturday. Pastrnak recorded two assists on March 7 and leads Boston when they visit Ovechkin. He is one of four Bruins players to record 40-plus points against the Capitals.
5. Four pack on Hockey Night in Canada (Saturday): Macklin Celebrini will make his second-last appearance on Hockey Night in Canada when the Sharks visit the Canadiens. Celebrini enters the week fifth in NHL scoring and owns an 11-point cushion in that positioning (next closest: Mark Scheifele w/ 78). He is looking to lead San Jose back into the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19.

Lightning’s Hagel Fined for Serving as Aggressor

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for serving as the aggressor in an altercation with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during NHL Game No. 1003 in Buffalo on Sunday, March 8. The incident occurred at 3:30 of the second period. Hagel was assessed a pair of minor penalties for roughing. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Scheifele, Necas and Thompson Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas and Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 8.

FIRST STAR – MARK SCHEIFELE, C, WINNIPEG JETS

Scheifele compiled 3-5—8 and a pair of game-winning goals across three appearances to propel the Jets (26-26-10, 62 points) to a perfect week as they moved within five points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He notched 1-2—3, capped by his franchise-record 18th career overtime goal (also tied for seventh place in NHL history), in a 3-2 comeback victory against the Chicago Blackhawks March 3. Scheifele then posted 1-1—2, including his sixth game-winning goal of the season (tied for fifth place in the League), in a 4-1 triumph versus the Tampa Bay Lightning March 5. He finished the week with 1-2—3, highlighted by his 30th goal of the campaign as well as the primary assists on both the tying and winning goals, in a 3-2 overtime victory against the Vancouver Canucks March 7. The 32-year-old Scheifele, who leads Winnipeg in goals, assists and points this season, ranks sixth in the entire NHL with 30-48—78 through 62 total contests in 2025-26.

SECOND STAR – MARTIN NECAS, C, COLORADO AVALANCHE

Necas recorded 3-5—8 in four games to help the League-leading Avalanche (43-10-9, 95 points) extend their winning streak to five contests (dating to Feb. 28) en route to opening a seven-point cushion in the Presidents’ Trophy race. He collected 1-2—3 in a 4-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings March 2, followed by his 29th career game-winning goal in a 5-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks March 3. Necas then produced 1-3—4, his sixth career four-point performance, as well as the clinching shootout goal in a 5-4 win versus the Dallas Stars March 6 before being held off the scoresheet in a 3-2 shootout triumph against the Minnesota Wild March 8. The 27-year-old Necas, in his first full season with Colorado after registering a career-high 27-56—83 in 2024-25 (79 GP w/ CAR and COL), sits eighth in the NHL with 28-48—76 through 59 total appearances in 2025-26.

THIRD STAR – TAGE THOMPSON, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Thompson notched 2-5—7 in four contests to lift the Sabres (39-19-6, 84 points) into first place in the Atlantic Division on the strength of a seven-game winning streak dating to Feb. 25. He potted his 24th career game-winning goal in a 3-2 triumph over the Vegas Golden Knights March 3. Thompson then tallied one assist in a 5-1 win versus the Pittsburgh Penguins March 5 before scoring his 34th goal of the campaign in a 3-2 victory against the Nashville Predators March 7. He closed the week with his first career four-assist game (and eighth career four-point performance) in an 8-7 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning March 8. The 28-year-old Thompson, who has points in a career-high 11 straight games dating to Jan. 31 (6-9—15), tops Buffalo and ranks 16th in the entire NHL with 34-36—70 across 64 total contests this season.