The Lightning started the game well. They controlled play for the first couple of minutes. But as has happened repeatedly this season, they gave up the first goal less than three minutes into the game on a defensive breakdown.
Andrej Sustr misplayed the puck in the neutral zone, which allowed Buffalo to get out on a two on one. Braydon Coburn made a smart play in aggressively attacking Zemgus Girgensons to try to disrupt the play, but Girgensons was too quick, and one-touched the puck across to Matt Moulson. Moulson put Buffalo ahead, beating Ben Bishop high on the short side.