The Bolts did not get off to the start they wanted as they went down early and could never catch back up. The Bolts were extremely unlucky this game as well but they could not break Buffalos D none the less. The Sabers played an amazing game especially on D, they also played for a full 60 which was a huge part of their success. Let’s see how we got here period by period.

First Period

The Sabers got off to a quick start dominating play early but the Bolts quickly got things under control. It was a very slow game in the early periods as both teams went back and forth both getting a few shots off here and there. The Game continued to be a physical and a goaltenders duel. Both teams also remained disciplined throughout the period with neither team receiving a penalty through the first half of the period. Things continued to be physical and neither team was budging. Both netminders continued to dominate stopping everything thrown at them. I wasn’t untill late in the first when Jeff Skinner sniped past Domingue for a 1-0 lead. The Bolts would then take their first penalty of the game as Cernak was called for Interference. The Bolts did successfully kill off most of the penalty but the horn would sound leaving a few seconds still remaining on the call.

Goals: 1-0 Buffalo

Shots: 11-8 Buffalo

Second Period

The Bolts would start off the period on the kill and were able to shut down the Sabers attack keeping the Bolts down by 1. The Sabers picked up on the momentum though and put the pressure on Kyle Okposo would then snap one into the back of the net to give the sabers a 2-0 lead. The Bolts would not let this lead last long though as Anthony Cirelli flung one past Hutton cutting the Sabers lead to 1. With the Bolts quick response, they used that momentum and dominated zone time. Hutton had other plans though as he turned all the Bolts shots away. The Bolts would finally get their first power play opportunity as Zemgus Girgensons was called for holding. The Bolts got a few shots off but could not get anything past Hutton keeping the Sabers up by 1. The Bolts then continued to take shot after shot but could just not find the back of the net. Both teams played disciplined as neither team was called for a penalty for the rest of the period. Despite the Bolts outshooting the Sabers 14 -2 in the period Hutton was a brick wall and kept the Sabers up by one as the horn sounded to end the second.

Goals: 2-1 Buffalo

Shots: 22-13 Tampa Bay

Third Period

The Bolts looked to pick things up where they left off but things would not be as dominant as the second. Both teams went back and forth looking to get another goal. Both teams also again stayed disciplined as we had no power plays in the early parts of the third. At the halfway point of the period, Tyler Johnson and Jeff Skinner would be at each other’s throats and both would get penalties (Johnson for slashing and Skinner for interference). With the two calls, we would head to 4 on 4 hockey were both teams picked up a few shots. Neither team was able to capitalize though and the score remained 2-1 Sabers. The Bolts continued to try and find a way back into this on but Buffalos D prevented them from getting anything set up. Time began to wind down and the Bolts were running out of options. Hutton and the Sabers D continued to prevent the Bolts from getting much set up so they were forced to pull Domingue with time running out. With the Extra skater on the Bolts, core went to work. Kucherov would then hit the post not once but twice as the Sabers narrowly slliped away with the win.

Goals: 2-1 Buffalo

Shots: 30-19 Tampa Bay

3 Stars

1. Carter Hutton (29SV, 1GA)
2. Kyle Okposo (1G)
3. Anthony Cirelli (1G)

Up Next and Final Strike

The Bolts outshot the Sabers 30-19 but could not find the back of the net. This was one of those games where the Bolts did so much but got very unlucky. Both teams played very disciplined preventing from either team’s special teams from making a big impact. Carter Hutton was huge for the Sabers when they needed him to be. The Bolts did not play a bad game but will really need to work on capitalizing when these kinds of game happen (like their one power play for instance) The Bolts should be able to bounce back from a game like this but the real test will be for how quickly they can pull out of this.

The Bolts will look to bounce back and get back in the win column as they take on the Pitsburg penguins Thursday, November 16th at 7:00 PM in PPG Paints Arena.