It's too bad the Buffalo Sabres can't play the Tampa Bay Lightning every game.  The final result might be the same each time, but at least you'd know it would be a good game.

The Sabres and Lightning completed their season series on Thursday night with the Lightning winning for the third time in four games, but this one wasn't decided until the final goal in a shoot out.  The Lightning prevailed 2-1 in a game the Sabres earlier led 1-0.

Rasmus Dahlin scored the lone Buffalo goal and in the second period the Sabres had at least six great chances to extend the lead to 2-0, but that familiar trend reared its ugly head once again.  The Sabres generate some good chances but just can't finish them off.  Sooner or later they're going to make a mistake and it's going to wind up in their own net.

The mistake they made was allowing Nikita Kucherov to shake free on a two on one break and he scored his 30th of the season to tie it.  Steven Stamkos scored the deciding goal in the shoot out.

Every the game the two teams have played this season has been close and for some reason the Sabres play their best against many of the top teams.  It's those bottom feeders they just can't handle.

Now on a four game losing streak the Sabres return home to host the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon.

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