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Lightning try to end slide against Sabres

Dec 10, 2008 - 11:40 AM Tampa Bay (6-13-8) at Buffalo (13-11-3) 7:00

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to be the doormat of the NHL.

The Lightning try to end an eight-game losing streak on Wednesday when they visit the Buffalo Sabres.

Captain Vincent Lecavalier and Adam Hall scored and rookie Paul Szczechura netted his first career NHL goal for Tampa Bay, but it was not enough as it fell to 0-6-2 in its last eight games during a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday.

The Lightning are 0-5-2 in their last seven road games after opening a four-game swing with Monday's loss. Tampa Bay plays six of its next seven contests on the road, and will be without Radim Vrbata.

The free-agent right wing, who was signed to a three-year, $9 million contract in the offseason, Vrbata appears to be heading to his native Czech Republic to finish the season, according to a report by TSN of Canada on Monday.

After recording 27 goals and 29 assists with the Phoenix Coyotes last season, the 27-year-old Vrbata has three tallies this season.

The Sabres picked up their second straight win on Monday as Thomas Vanek registered his NHL-leading 20th goal in the third period and Ryan Miller made 29 saves en route to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The winning streak comes on the heels of an inconsistent stretch for Buffalo, which had lost three straight games in regulation before forging back-to-back victories. The Sabres also claimed consecutive wins on November 26 and 28 following five regulation setbacks in a row.