Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Picks & Odds | 08 Mar 2026

NHL Betting Preview: Lightning vs Sabres

The Tampa Bay Lightning go up against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, with face-off scheduled for 18:00 on Sunday, March 8.

There is merit in backing the Sabres on the Moneyline considering our prediction is that they will have the edge over the Lightning. Especially as odds of +102 are available about this happening.

Tampa Bay Lightning won their previous game 5-2. This was a road victory at Scotiabank Arena against Toronto Maple Leafs. Nikita Kucherov bagged 4 points, all of them were assists. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy had 27 saves (.931).

Buffalo Sabres were winners for the sixth straight time in their last game. Landing a 3-2 home victory against Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center. Tage Thompson, Jason Zucker and Josh Doan scored one goal apiece.

Head-to-Head Statistics

These two teams last met at Benchmark International Arena, with the Sabres claiming the win. Beating the Lightning by a 6-2 scoreline. We’ve seen six Sabres wins in the past 10 meetings between the teams.

Starting Goalies

Jonas Johansson (Expected)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	10-8-1	3	.890	0
23/24	12-7-5	3.37	.890	2

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Expected)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	14-7-2	2.6	.910	0
23/24	27-22-4	2.57	.910	5

6 wins and 4 losses, averaging 3.6 goals from 33.3 shots on goal, with a 15.1% powerplay efficiency. The Lightning have given up 3.4 goals from 30.1 shots, averaging 5.4 penalties with a penalty-killing efficiency of 87.0%.

Nikita Kucherov is the top points scorer with 20 points, 6 goals and 14 assists, with Jake Guentzel racking up 12 points, 3 goals and 9 assists, over the last 10 games. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy have a 3.08 goal against average with a .894 save percentage.

The Sabres have 7 wins, 2 losses and 1 overtime loss, averaging 3.4 goals from 29.3 shots on goal, with a 15.9% powerplay efficiency. They have been conceding 2.6 goals from 31.7 shots, averaging 3.7 penalties per game with a penalty-killing efficiency of 86.5%.

The top points scorer is Tage Thompson with 11 points, 6 goals and 5 assists, while Rasmus Dahlin is next best after registering 11 points, 1 goal and 10 assists. Goalie Alex Lyon have a 2.54 GAA with a .919 SV%.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction & Picks

Our expert Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres betting tips include a main match prediction, a correct score pick and bet builder advice. Explore each section below for detailed insights.

Game Prediction

Buffalo Sabres should have the edge over their opponents and our pick is to side with them on the Moneyline. There is a tempting +102 for the home team to win this NHL encounter.

Our expert hockey predictions always start with checking the latest team news and understanding how it might impact the matchup. From there, we dive into the most valuable NHL stats to uncover the insights that matter most.

Key Lightning vs Sabres stats:

• Sabres have won 6 consecutive games.
• Sabres have won 7 of their last 10 games.
• Sabres have won 14 of their last 20 games.
• Lightning have lost 4 of their last 5 games.
• Sabres have won 6 of their last 10 games against Lightning.

Sabres Moneyline Probability

Based on the odds from the top NHL sportsbooks, there’s a 49.5% likelihood of our pick delivering a return. Taking all factors into consideration, our cappers think there’s a stronger chance of success and have a probability interval between 55-60%. It’s why we think it’s worth placing this hockey bet.

If you’re looking to squeeze more juice from the odds, consider Buffalo against the Puck Line. There are some great options when it comes to our pick covering the various spreads.

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Our Game Prediction

Sabres Moneyline @ +102 Watch Live Bet Now

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Disclosure: This preview contains affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. T&Cs apply. We only recommend licensed and regulated operators. See our Editorial Policy. Pick odds and lines reflect the price available at the time of publication (Mar 8, 01:56). Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Correct Score Prediction

Lightning 2 - 3 Sabres

We’ve picked out a correct score of 3-2 being landed by the Sabres. You can secure odds of +900 and this provides an alternative way to place a wager.

Latest Correct Score Odds

Score

Lightning

Sabres

1-0

Lightning

+6600

Sabres

+6000

2-0

Lightning

+5500

Sabres

+5500

2-1

Lightning

+1700

Sabres

+1700

3-0

Lightning

+4000

Sabres

+4000

3-1

Lightning

+2200

Sabres

+2000

3-2

Lightning

+900

Sabres

+900

4-0

Lightning

+4500

Sabres

+4500

4-1

Lightning

+1800

Sabres

+1700

4-2

Lightning

+1600

Sabres

+1600

4-3

Lightning

+950

Sabres

+950

5-0

Lightning

+8000

Sabres

+8000

5-1

Lightning

+2800

Sabres

+2800

5-2

Lightning

+1700

Sabres

+1700

5-3

Lightning

+2200

Sabres

+2200

5-4

Lightning

+1700

Sabres

+1700

6-0

Lightning

+11000

Sabres

+11000

6-1

Lightning

+6000

Sabres

+6000

6-2

Lightning

+3000

Sabres

+3000

6-3

Lightning

+2500

Sabres

+2800

6-4

Lightning

+4000

Sabres

+4000

6-5

Lightning

+4000

Sabres

+4000

7-1

Lightning

+10000

Sabres

+10000

7-2

Lightning

+7500

Sabres

+8000

7-3

Lightning

+5000

Sabres

+5500

7-4

Lightning

+5500

Sabres

+5500

7-5

Lightning

+9000

Sabres

+9000

7-6

Lightning

+9000

Sabres

+9000

8-2

Lightning

+12500

Sabres

+13000

8-3

Lightning

+12000

Sabres

+13000

8-4

Lightning

+10000

Sabres

+10000

8-5

Lightning

+12000

Sabres

+12000

View More

Pick odds and lines correct at publication. Live market odds are updated regularly and may differ. T&Cs apply. 18+ (or legal age) | Gamble Responsibly.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres Odds

The odds and lines below are updated regularly and may differ from the prices shown in our picks, which are captured at the time of publication.

There’s the opportunity to back Buffalo Sabres at -108 on the Moneyline although Tampa Bay Lightning are priced up at betting odds of -111. According to the top sportsbooks, the home team have an implied probability of 52%.

The puck line stands at 1.5 and the total goals line is 6.5. Having a bet on Totals is one of the most popular hockey wagers. If you’re wanting to back Over 6.5, the odds are -106.

There are hundreds of game lines and team props when it comes to wagering on the National Hockey League and we recommend visiting the top betting sites to find the wager that matches your view on the game.

Moneyline

Lightning

-111

Sabres

-108

3-Way Moneyline

Lightning

+145

Tie

+320

Sabres

+148

Puck Line

Lightning -1.5

+210

Sabres +1.5

-278

Total Goals

Under 6.5

-114

Over 6.5

-106

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Tampa Bay Lightning Stats

Buffalo Sabres Stats

Moneyline

• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games
• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 7 wins and 3 defeats in the last 10 games
• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games

Puck Line

• -1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 4 of the last 10 games
• -1.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 3 of the last 10 games on the road

Puck Line

• +1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 8 of the last 10 games
• +1.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 8 of the last 10 home games

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 7.10 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 6.20 goals in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 6.5: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 on the Road: Covered in 3 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.70 goals and allowed 3.40 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 3.10 pts and allowed 3.10 goals in the last 10 games on the road

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 6.00 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 6.70 goals in the previous 10 home games
• Over 6.5: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 at Home: Covered in 6 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.40 goals and allowed 2.60 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 3.60 goals and allowed 3.10 goals in the last 10 home games

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.8
• Shots: 33.3
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 5.4
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 18.9
• Blocks: 13.6
• Faceoff Wins : 29.7
• Hits: 23.3
• Giveaways: 14.7
• Takeaways: 4.4

Last 10 Games on the Road

• Goals Powerplay: 0.8
• Shots: 29.3
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 4.1
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 13.1
• Blocks: 12.4
• Faceoff Wins : 23.9
• Hits: 18.6
• Giveaways: 15.5
• Takeaways: 4.3

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.7
• Shots: 29.3
• Goals Shorthanded: 0.2
• Penalties: 3.7
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 8
• Blocks: 11.7
• Faceoff Wins : 28.1
• Hits: 18.2
• Giveaways: 16.1
• Takeaways: 4.9

Last 10 Home Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.8
• Shots: 27
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 4.1
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 11.2
• Blocks: 7.7
• Faceoff Wins : 20.4
• Hits: 18.5
• Giveaways: 16.2
• Takeaways: 5

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Injuries & Suspensions

Starting Lineups

Both teams’ confirmed lineups will be published ahead of face-off. There is also the chance to look at the lineups from the previous 10 games.

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