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Lightning begin critical home stretch against Sabres

Mar 16, 2007 - 4:01 PM Buffalo (50-19-6) at Tampa Bay (39-28-4) 8:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- How the Tampa Bay Lightning perform at home down the stretch will determine whether they make the playoffs.

The Lightning begin a crucial stretch of home games against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

Tampa Bay has 82 points and is sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning trail Atlanta (37-25-10) by two points for first place in the Southeast Division.

Tampa Bay is 18-14-1 at home this season but has won six of its last eight home contests. It concluded a season-high six game road road trip with a 3-2 loss at Toronto on Tuesday.

Brad Richards and defenseman Dan Boyle scored while Vincent Lecavalier had an assist against the Maple Leafs.

Lecavalier leads the league with 46 goals and is second in assists with 48. The All-Star center has points in 14 of his past 15 games and owns a six-game points streak.

Buffalo maintained its two-point lead over New Jersey (43-20-8) for the top spot in the East with a 5-3 triumph at Florida on Thursday.

Rookie Drew Stafford had two goals and backup netminder Ty Conklin made a season-high 42 saves for the Sabres, who are three points behind Detroit (45-17-9) for first place overall in the NHL.