Nikita Kucherov recorded his 99th assist of the season, although it wasn't enough to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to victory as they fell 4-2 to the Buffalo Sabres at Amalie Arena on Monday. Dylan Cozens was the standout performer for the Sabres, scoring two goals and an assist in Buffalo’s season finale. Sabres goalie Eric Comrie, ending a challenging season on a high note, made 31 saves for his first win since October 21. Reflecting on his tumultuous season, Comrie acknowledged the support from his team, stating, "It was nice that my hard work and work ethic paid off. It’s been an honor to play with these guys and to be a Buffalo Sabre."

The win provided little solace to the Sabres, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 13th straight year. Sabres coach Don Granato chose to highlight the positive performances in the game rather than dwell on the disappointing season.

On the other side, the Lightning, who had already secured the first wild card from the Eastern Conference, displayed signs of frustration. Coach Jon Cooper criticized the team’s lack of engagement, particularly after allowing a short-handed goal that seemed to deflate their energy. Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who scored his 40th goal of the season, echoed Cooper’s sentiments and emphasized the importance of focusing on fundamentals in their final regular season game to boost confidence heading into the playoffs.

The game opened with an early goal from Cozens, setting the tone for Buffalo. Stamkos briefly leveled the score in the second period, but Cozens regained the lead for Buffalo with a short-handed goal. Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson also found the net for Buffalo, intensifying the pressure on Tampa Bay, which managed only one more goal from Erik Cernak in the third period.

As the season concluded, Cozens expressed his resolve to improve in the offseason, stating, "It's going to be a big summer for a lot of us; we’ve got a lot to prove and we’re hungry."

The match also saw Lightning’s Luke Glendening exit early due to an injury from a check into the boards. Coach Cooper later confirmed that Glendening would miss the upcoming game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and his status for the playoffs was uncertain.

Despite differing end-of-season scenarios for both teams, each demonstrated their determination to close out strongly. Buffalo forward Alex Tuch summarized the team’s motivation, stressing the importance of battling hard for Comrie, which encapsulated the team's effort to finish the season with respect and teamwork.

As Buffalo faces another offseason reflecting on what could have been, and Tampa Bay looks forward to the playoffs, both teams are focused on regrouping and returning stronger, driven by the challenges and aspirations laid bare at the close of the regular season.