Sharpen Up: October 26, 2021 | Sabres score 5 goals for 3rd time

The Buffalo Sabres improved to 4-1-1 last night thanks to a 5-1 win over the two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Sabres got off to a fast start, faced a tough challenge in the second period (being outshot 11-3) and came out strong in the third period to secure the two points.
Last night was the third time in six games that they've scored at least five goals. It marks the first time they've done that to start a season since 2007-08.
The team is off today and will return to practice tomorrow before heading to California to begin a four-game road trip.
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Here's what you need to know.

A look back at last night

Victor Olofsson scored twice while Drake Caggiula, Vinnie Hinostroza and Robert Hagg all added their first goals of the season. Olofsson and Hagg each potted empty netters in the late stages of the third.
Craig Anderson made 35 saves.
Caggiula's goal came 37.8 seconds remaining in the second on Buffalo's third shot of the period to break a 1-1 tie. Hinostroza scored early in the third period to put the Sabres up two, and then Hagg and Olofsson added those empty-net goals.
From the Postgame Report by Sabres.com's Jourdon LaBarber:
Don Granato fell in love with hockey during basement games alongside three of his siblings. His older brother, Tony, became a longtime NHL player and coach. His younger sister, Cammi, is an Olympic gold medalist and enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
So, perhaps Granato was speaking from experience when he addressed the Sabres following the second period of their 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
His message?
"Big brother beats up the little brother, kind of just push back, push back," forward Drake Caggiula recounted. "We came back flying in the third and pushed back."

Granato summed it up another way.
"You have to respect everybody in this league, up and down," he said. "But there's situations where you can give too much respect and that's a flat-out mistake. That was something that we talked about."
The Sabres continued to demand the respect of the NHL with their victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. They improve to 4-1-1 with the win, their first win over the Lightning since Nov. 13, 2018.

Anderson climbs all-time wins list

With his 35-save performance, Anderson earned his 294th career win. He now has sole possession of 40th place in NHL history in goaltender wins.
Through four starts this season, Anderson is 3-1-0 with a .944 save percentage and a 1.76 goals-against average. He's sixth in the league in save percentage and among goaltenders with at least three starts, he's fourth in goals-against average.

An update on some prospects

Northeastern goaltender Devon Levi's spectacular start to the season continues. He earned his third shutout in a 1-0 win over Colorado College on Friday. He made 25 saves to pick up his third win in five starts this year.
He was named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Week for his efforts.
He's currently third in the nation with a .950 save percentage and sixth with a 1.40 goals-against average.
Drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Draft by Florida, Levi was acquired by the Sabres on Day 2 of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Check out more in our weekly Prospects Update.