There were 102 total penalty minutes in the game and six special teams goals, five of which were scored by the Sabers (four on the power play, one on the penalty kill), highlighted by Doan’s power play goal. It was Buffalo’s most special teams goals in a single game since November 8, 2011.
Here are some advanced stats to remember from the Lightning-Sabres thriller, which was arguably the NHL’s game of the year this season:
Firing speed
Raddysh made the most powerful shot of the match at 98.64 miles per hour; it was the most powerful shot by a player in all seven NHL games on Sunday. Raddysh, who hit two shots over 90 mph in the game, leads the NHL with 75 such attempts this season (34 more than the next closest player).
Buffalo had 16 shot attempts at least 80 mph, while Tampa Bay had eight. Thompson and Raddysh were tied for the most attempts over 80 mph in the match (four each). There were four shot attempts of at least 90 mph in the game, two by Raddysh and one each by Thompson and Dahlin. Thompson leads NHL forwards in shot attempts over 90 mph (31) this season, has the fifth-most difficult shot attempts at the position (97.94 mph) and ranks in the 98th percentile for average shot speed (64.63 mph).
Skating speed
Buffalo had 26 accelerations of at least 20 mph, led from the front Beck Malenstyn having the fastest speed in the game (22.19 mph). Malenstyn leads the Sabers with 13 accelerations of at least 22 mph this season, which ranks him in the 96th percentile among forwards.
Before Ryan McLeodwho had an assist in the match, led all players in the match with six accelerations over 20 mph; he ranks eighth in the entire NHL with 250 bursts of at least 20 mph this season. Lightning forward Brandon Hagelwho had a goal and an assist in the game, had the Lightning’s fastest speed (22.15 mph). He ranks among the advanced leaders in speed bursts over 22 mph (11; 93rd percentile) and over 20 mph (138; 90th percentile).
Goals outside the race
According to NHL EDGE IQ, six goals (four by Buffalo, two by Tampa Bay) were scored on the rush, defined as goals that occurred within five seconds of the puck passing the offensive blue line. Both of Zucker’s goals came off the rush, including his goal that tied the game, 7-7, with 5:31 left in the third period.
