Benjamin Pierce

Sam O'Reilly will make his NHL debut tonight in Buffalo in front of family and friends. The 20-year-old center is officially living out his #GoBolts dream. "I don't think the stage is too big for that kid." Pregame read: nhl.com/lightning/news/sam-o…

#GoBolts Cooper on O'Reilly playing top six and power play in his debut: "We don't have too many right sticks out of there, and he's been good in there. O'Rei played in that spot for us the last two training camps and he did extremely well. So I have no problem with that. He can win faceoffs, he did that tonight. He did everything, and it was great. You only get one chance to play in your first game, and he gets a point in it. It was awesome for him and he's got a ton of people here. He did a great job."

Injury update: Jon Cooper said in his postgame media availability that Erik Cernak is "probably" out tomorrow in Columbus and then will be re-evaluated. Cernak left in the second period and didn't return. #GoBolts

#GoBolts Cooper: "It was tough giving up that late goal in the second and then they score 30 seconds in(to the third), and now the game is sort of in the balance. But Kuch did a Kuch thing and scored right after that to kind of snuff things out and we took it from there."

John Carlson tonight became the fourth defenseman in #GoBolts franchise history to reach 5 points in a game, joining Doug Crossman, Pavel Kubina and Darren Raddysh. Only Crossman (3-3--6 on Nov. 7, 1992) has hit 6.

Kucherov’s natural hat trick tonight was the third of his career, which is the most in #GoBolts franchise history.

FINAL: #GoBolts 8, Buffalo 3 Carlson G, 4 A Kucherov 3G, A Guentzel 4A Hagel 2G, A Cirelli 3A O'Reilly Assist in his NHL debut Tampa Bay is 12-4-2

FIVE PIECE: @TBLightning defenseman John Carlson has a career-high five points (1-4--5) tonight to reach 800 in his career. Carlson's just the fifth U.S.-born defenseman all-time to the mark (Phil Housley, Brian Leetch, Chris Chelios, Gary Suter).

GOAL: Hagel's second goal of the night, Kucherov's got his fourth point. It's 8-3 #GoBolts

GOAL: Kucherov hat-trick, John Carlson's fifth point of the night is the 800th of his career. It's 7-3 #GoBolts

JK, Buffalo takes another penalty. It's a #GoBolts power play

Buffalo net is empty with 6:45 left

McLeod takes a penalty by hacking Hedman, the #GoBolts go to the man advantage with a three-goal lead

Norris and Moser give each other some crosschecks and head to the penalty box after a scrum, it's 4-on-4 hockey

GOAL: Kucherov buries the Carlson cross-ice feed, it's 6-3 #GoBolts

Kucherov's goal chases Luukkonen, Ellis is now in net for the Sabres

GOAL: Kucherov, wowza. Buries the backhand break as he's getting hooked, it's 5-3 #GoBolts

4-3, Thompson

Period three here we go, #GoBolts lead 4-2

End of the second period, the #GoBolts lead Buffalo 4-2