Lightning pull away from Sabres for second straight win, 4-1

A Buffalo Sabres team that is comprised largely of new pieces that are just learning to work together fell in its second game on Saturday afternoon, losing a 4-1 match with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Buffalo Sabres left winger Matt Moulson (26) battles for a loose…

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (1-0-0): Tampa Bay received an overtime winner from a defenseman (Victor Hedman) to start the 2014-15 season and coach Jon Cooper told reporters afterward: “Hopefully this season carries on similarly”. Without hesitation, Stamkos gets his stick on the puck and sends it flying right through Johnson’s five hole.

A tricky bounce allowed Stamkos to pad Tampa Bay’s lead.

“I’ve put up the score after two, we’re down two right now in the game”, Bylsma said jokingly.

NOTES: The Sabres placed Lehner on the injured list before the game, calling up Nathan Lieuwen to back up Johnson….

Condra opened the scoring 8:14 into the second period following a routine faceoff win in the Buffalo zone. The Lightning begin a stretch in which they play 11 of the next 15 on the road and will depend a lot on goalie Ben Bishop, who stopped two penalty shots Thursday. Sam Reinhart and Josh Gorges assisted for the Blue & Gold.

After a 43-goal, 72-point season one year ago, Stamkos was thrilled to get his first of the year out of the way.

While Buffalo is still a newer divisional opponent to the Lightning, today’s Sabres team was an improvement from the one Tampa Bay had previously beaten in seven out of the last nine meetings. With Tampa Bay turning up the pressure, Kucherov fired a hard wrist shot high to the glove side. The Lightning power play came after the Sabres were penalized for having too many men on the ice. The puck went through traffic in front of the net, and appeared to have deflect off Valtteri Filppula, but he was instead credited with an assist along with Ryan Callahan. Tampa Bay scratched Cedric Paquette, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Nesterov….

–Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who has not played since sustaining an upper-body injury during a preseason game September 24, was doubtful to play against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

–The Los Angeles Kings assigned goaltender Peter Budaj to the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League. Gionta is out with a lower-body injury but is considered day-to-day….