TAMPA, Fla. – Steven Stamkos scored his 25th goal of the season, Martin St. Louis had an empty-net goal and two assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on Saturday night.
Tampa Bay also got a goal from Simon Gagne. Mike Smith stopped 22 shots, helping the Lightning win for just the second time in their last 11 homes games against Buffalo.
Jason Pominville had a goal and Ryan Miller made 34 saves for the Sabres. Miller was pulled after allowing four goals on 10 shots in the first period of the Sabres' 6-2 loss Friday night at Florida.
Gagne put the Lightning up 1-0 when he lifted a low slot backhander over Miller during a power play with 7:44 left in the second. Miller lost for the fourth time in 20 career decisions against Tampa Bay.
Stamkos made it 2-0 with 1:50 left in the second, scoring from the slot off a pass from St. Louis. St. Louis had received a pass through the slot from Ryan Malone.
Pominville cut it to 2-1 when he scored an in-close goal with 47.7 seconds to go in the second. The right wing has 13 goals and 29 points in 21 games against the Lightning.
Tampa Bay went up 3-1 on St. Louis' goal with 1.6 seconds to play. Stamkos assisted on the goal.
Miller stopped Dana Tyrell's shot during a short-handed breakaway 4 minutes into second. The goalie also stopped another short-handed chance by Tyrell early in the third.
Tampa Bay outshot Buffalo 18-5, including five shots by Stamkos, during the second.
Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier failed to score on a penalty shot with 5:45 remaining in the third.
NOTES: Buffalo C Tim Connolly was shaken up and went to the locker room after a check into the boards by Tampa Bay C Nate Thompson 90 seconds into the game. Connolly returned for the start of the second period. ... Gagne has 13 goals and 30 points in 31 games against Buffalo. ... Sabres D Shaone Morrisonn (concussion) has resumed practicing with the team. He has missed six straight games.
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