In their first post-trade-deadline game, the new-look Buffalo Sabres beat the Tampa Lightning 3-1 in Tampa.

Going up 3-0, the Sabres were less than 3 minutes away from a shutout when Tampa's Tyler Johnson scored a short-handed goal, giving the home crowd a bit of optimism. A Buffalo penalty a minute later gave Tampa fans a bit more to cheer about, but it was Sabres fans cheering at the end.

Sabres' goals came from Tyler Myers with 4:04 to go in the first period, Marcus Foligno with 10:35 remaining in the second, and Cody Hodgson, who netted his 16th of the year with 6:16 left in the game.

The win was the Sabres' fourth in their last five games. The blue and gold play again Friday at the Florida Panthers.

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