NHL: Buffalo 4, Tampa Bay 2

BUFFALO, N.Y., Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Thomas Vanek produced the tying and go-ahead scores Wednesday, running his league-leading goal total to 22 and giving Buffalo a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay.

The Lightning lost their ninth straight.

Tampa Bay, which is 1-7-4 since firing Coach Barry Melrose, took a 2-0 lead before Drew Stafford scored on the power-play with 38 seconds left in the opening period.

Vanek then tied it with a wrister midway through the second period and put the Sabres in front with a power-play goal with 15 seconds to go in the stanza.

Buffalo nursed a one-goal advantage until Jason Pominville scored shorthanded into an empty net with 13 seconds to play.

The Sabres won their third straight, with Ryan Miller stopping 26 of 28 shots. It was Buffalo's seventh win over Tampa Bay in eight meetings.

Mike Smith made 33 saves in taking the loss.