Sabres-Lightning game sees multiple brawls

The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning faced off in a wild game on March 8, 2026, that saw the Sabres edge out the Lightning 8-7. This match featured a staggering 15 goals and 28 penalties, marking the most combined goals and penalties in an NHL game since 1993.

Six different players scored for the Lightning, while five players found the net for the Sabres, with seven players registered at least three points. Jason Zucker scored two goals and assisted on Josh Doan's game-winning goal, which came with 4:17 remaining in the third period.

Nikita Kucherov led the Lightning with two goals and an assist. Penalty minutes were heavily skewed, with the Lightning accumulating 57 minutes and the Sabres 45. Notably, both teams engaged in seven fights during the matchup, with Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Bowen Byram leading their teams with 12 penalty minutes each.

The win marked the seventh consecutive victory for the Sabres, propelling them to first place in the Atlantic Division, a position they have not held at this stage of the season since April 11, 2010. According to OptaSTATS, the last time an NHL game featured such a combination of goals and penalties was during a playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on April 25, 1989.