Guentzel's goal in the final seconds of OT gives the Lightning a 4-3 win over the Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates after sccoring the game-winning goal against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Colten Ellis (92) during and overtime period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
TAMPA, Fla. — Jake Guentzel scored with 14 seconds remaining in overtime after teammate Darren Raddysh forced the extra session by scoring with 26 seconds left in regulation as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat Buffalo Sabres 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Guentzel took a long pass from Nikita Kucherov just outside the blue line of the Sabres' zone, skated in and beat Colten Ellis with a low shot to extend the Lightning's winning streak to four games.
Kucherov had a four-point game with a goal and three assists. Oliver Bjorkstrand also scored and Raddysh finished with a goal and an assist. Guentzel also assisted on Kucherov's goal in the first period. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 23 saves.
Mattias Samuelsson scored twice and Josh Doan added a goal for Buffalo, which was coming off a win over Florida on Monday night and has won six of its last eight games. Ellis made 31 saves.
The teams traded goals in the first period and, after a scoreless second, each scored twice in the third.
After goals by Samuelsson and Bjorkstrand early in the third, Doan appeared to give Buffalo the edge, scoring a power-play goal with just over five minutes remaining. But, Tampa Bay took advantage of an extra skater and struck in the final seconds as Raddysh scored with 26 seconds remaining to force the extra session.
The Atlantic Division-leading Lightning were coming off a 6-5 win over Boston in an NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Tampa Bay rallied from a four-goal deficit and won that game in a shootout.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Jake Guentzel (59) celebrates after scoring against the Buffalo Sabres during overtime in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara
Tampa Bay was without centers Anthony Cirelli (undisclosed) and Brayden Point (lower body) and winger Nick Paul (undisclosed). Lightning coach Jon Cooper said before the game that Cirelli and Paul would also miss Thursday’s game against Florida. Cirelli was replaced on Canada’s Olympic roster.
Buffalo was without Zach Benson (upper body), Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) and Jordan Greenway (abdomen). Luukkonen’s injury will keep him off Finland’s roster for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.
Up next
Sabres: Host Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Lightning: Host Florida on Thursday.
