Buffalo loses for first time in 11 games, fall one short of setting a team record.
By Corey Long / NHL.com Correspondent
TAMPA BAY, FL. — The Buffalo Sabres had their 10-game winning streak end in a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.
Cedric Paquette scored off a drop pass from Mikhail Sergachev on the rush to give the Lightning a 5-4 lead with 5:41 remaining in the third period.
Dan Girardi, Alex Killorn, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos scored for the Lightning (18-7-1), who have won four of five games and moved past the Sabres (17-7-2) for first place in the Atlantic Division. Louis Domingue made 18 saves.
Sam Reinhart scored two goals for the Sabres, who lost for the first time since Nov. 4. Carter Hutton made 32 saves.
Tage Thompson gave the Sabres a 4-3 lead at 2:29 of the third period with a shot that beat Domingue to the far post.
Stamkos tied it 4-4 at 4:12 with a one-timer off a pass from Victor Hedman.
Girardi gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead at 2:59 of the first period when he followed up his own shot after Killorn set up him up in the low slot.
Zemgus Girgensons tied it 1-1 at 8:42 of the first when he tipped a shot from Rasmus Ristolainen.
Reinhart gave the Sabres a 2-1 lead at 9:45 of the first with a shot that bounced off Domingue’s shoulder.
Killorn tied it 2-2 at 10:28 of the first period.
Kucherov put the Lightning ahead 3-2 at 15:55 of the first when he converted a 3-on-1.
Reinhart scored his second goal of the game to tie it 3-3 at 5:39 of the second period when Jack Eichel’s shot deflected off his skate.
Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh left the game at 11:50 of the first period with an injury.
The Sabres continue their road trip in Florida with a game against the Panthers Friday night.