Lalime gets 200th win, Roy gets hat trick as Sabres top Lightning 7-1 to clinch playoff spot

Sabres rout Lightning 7-1 to clinch playoff spot

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Patrick Lalime won his 200th career game and the Buffalo Sabres clinched their first playoff berth in three years with a 7-1 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.

Lalime, who made 22 saves, had been 0-4-1 with a no-decision since posting win No. 199 against Pittsburgh on Dec. 29. He is the 66th goalie in NHL history to reach the milestone.

Derek Roy scored his fourth career hat trick and added an assist for Buffalo, which hadn’t reached the playoffs since the 2007-08 season.

Paul Gaustad, Jochen Hecht, Jason Pominville, and Adam Mair also scored for the Sabres, who have won five of their last six.

Steve Downie scored for Tampa Bay, which lost for the sixth time in eight games.