Lightning In A Bogo (sabres)

The wait is over.

Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian is now a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bogosian will earn $1.3M AAV.

One door closed while another door opened for the former third overall pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Bogosian's exit from Buffalo was an emotional one. He cleared waivers and was suspended for failure to report to the Rochester Amerks. He then was placed on unconditional waivers and had his contract terminated, making him a free agent.

Bogosian, 29, will fill an immediate need on the right side of the Tampa D corps.

***

Move over Maple leafs and Panthers. Here come the Buffalo Sabres.

Ralph Kreuger's Sabres are 7-3-1 in their last 11 games and are charging up the Atlantic Division standings.

The Sabres grabbed four huge points this weekend against Pittsburgh and Winnipeg.

The Sabres now trail the Leafs by only six points for third place in the Atlantic playoff chase.

Sunday's 2-1 win over Winnipeg and the 5-2 win at Pittsburgh on Saturday gave Sabres their first back-to-back sweep of the season.

The Sabres are now 7-2-2 in afternoon games this season, including a 6-2-0 record at home.

Rookie goalie Jonas Johansson stopped 25 of 26 shots today (.962 SV%) to earn his first NHL win in his fourth career appearance.

With two goals today, Kyle Okposo logged his 16th career multi-goal game and his first since March 31, 2018 at Nashville.

Okposo now has 4G,1A in his last 4 games, marking his longest point streak since he tallied points in four straight games from November 10 to 17, 2017.

Zemgus Girgensons chipped in two assists today to give him three points (1G,2A) in two games played this weekend.

Okposo led all Sabres with 5 shots on goal.

The power trio of Girgensons-Okposo-Larsson combined for 2G,2A and a +6 rating in the win over the Jets. The line combined for a goal, assist and a +2 rating in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.

Ralph Kreuger rode his grinding fourth liners hard in the third period against Winnipeg's top line and it paid excellent dividends. The Sabres did not allow a shot on Johannsson for the final 9:24 of regulation tie in the one goal game.

Brandon Montour posted an assist today. He now has four points (2G,2A) and is +8 rating in his last five games.

Henri Jokiharju appeared in his 100th NHL game today.

**

When asked in his postgame scrum about the NHL trade deadline, Okposo laid it on the line for his GM Jason Botterill:

Botterill has been sitting on his stockpile of NHL defensemen for the past five months. Okposo, Jack Eichel and the Sabres have played well enough for their GM to deliver a shiny new scoring forward to the Sabres for the final 20 game drag race of the season.

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