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Lightning continue homestand against Sabres

Feb 8, 2011 - 3:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Lightning are near perfect as they approach the midway point of their longest homestand in team history. Tampa Bay aims for the fifth victory of the 12-game stay this evening as it takes on the Buffalo Sabres at St. Pete Times Forum.

Tampa Bay opened up its residency with three straight victories to run its overall winning streak to six games in a row before suffering a setback to Washington on Friday. The Lightning, though, bounced right back with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Blues and still lead the Capitals by three points for first place in the Southeast Division.

One day shy of his 21st birthday, Steven Stamkos became the first player in the league this year to reach 40 goals and only the second skater in team history to hit the mark in consecutive seasons. The other is Vincent Lecavalier, who had the game-winning goal with 6.7 seconds left in overtime of Sunday's win.

"When we use the word relentless, that was how we played tonight," Lecavalier said after his club won for the seventh time in eight games and for the 12th time in the past 15 at home.

While Lecavalier scored just his second goal in 17 games, Stamkos has nine tallies and 15 points in his last 10 games. He also added three assists to match a season high with four points and leads the NHL with 72 points.

Dan Ellis stopped 29 shots in the victory for the Bolts, who could get Ryan Malone back for the first time in six games due to an undisclosed injury. However, the club could still be without Mattias Ritola (inner ear) Mike Lundin (groin/abdomen) and Nate Thompson (head).

The Sabres will look to spoil the Lightning's run at home as they go for a fourth victory in five games this evening. They were last in action on Saturday, notching a 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

Drew Stafford scored twice and added an assist, while Thomas Vanek matched his three points with a goal and two helpers. Ryan Miller made 23 saves for Buffalo, which is five points back of a playoff spot and has won 13 of its last 14 versus Toronto.

"I guess just 'cause the media's told me the record [versus Toronto] and they make a little bit of hype out of it," Miller said. "It mainly has to do with the fact that we really don't want their fans to have a fun time coming to Buffalo."

The Sabres had similar success versus the Lightning before this season. Buffalo came into the 2010-11 campaign having won 17 of its last 20 versus Tampa Bay, but the Lightning have won both meetings this year.

Martin St. Louis had a goal and two assists and Stamkos scored and set up another goal in a 3-1 home win over the Sabres on Dec. 18, just Tampa's second victory in its last 11 as the host in this series.