The Buffalo Sabres and the Tampa Bay Lightning meet Sunday in NHL action from the Amalie Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Lightning vs Sabres Prediction.
Matchup History
The home team has won both meetings between these two teams this season, with the Lightning claiming a 6-5 win back on March 6th, 2025, before Buffalo sneaked out a 3-2 shootout win on April 5th, 2025. The Sabres’ win has given Buffalo 6 wins in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
Buffalo Sabres Recap
The Buffalo Sabres come into this game looking to bounce back from a 3-2 shootout loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers last time out to fall to 35-37-7 on the year. After this game, the Sabres will head home for a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sabres Drop Back-To-Back Games
Tage Thompson leads the Sabres with 71 points including a team-leading 44 goals along with 27 assists while Alex Tuch is right behind with 64 points including 34 goals and 30 assists. JJ Peterka has 65 points with 26 goals and 39 assists and Rasmus Dahlin has 66 points with 17 goals and 49 assists. Jason Zucker’s also added 52 points with 21 goals and 31 assists. Devon Levi has gone 2-7 in net for the Sabres with a 4.12 GAA and an .872 save percentage while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is 24-23-5 with a 3.20 GAA and an .886 save percentage as well on the year. James Reimer is 9-7-2 with a 2.62 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
Why the Buffalo Sabres will win
- The Lightning have lost each of their last four games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The underdogs have won four of the Lightning’s last five games.
- The Sabres have covered the puck line in each of their last eight night games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Lightning have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games against Atlantic Division opponents.
Buffalo Sabres Player Prop Facts
- Tage Thompson has scored at least one goal in four of the Sabres’ last five games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Rasmus Dahlin has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Sabres’ last nine games against the Lightning.
- JJ Peterka has recorded at least one point in each of the Sabres’ last eight road games.
Tampa Bay Lightning Recap
The Tampa Bay Lightning come into this game looking to bounce back from a 4-3 OT loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings last time out to drop to 45-26-8 on the year. After this game, the Lightning will welcome the rival Florida Panthers to town.
Lightning Lose Back-To-Back Games & 4 Of Their Last 5
Nikita Kucherov leads the Bolts with 116 points including a team-high 34 goals and 82 assists while Brandon Hagel has 87 points with 35 goals and 52 assists and Anthony Cirelli has 56 points of his own with 27 goals and 29 assists. Brayden Point has 79 points with 41 goals and 38 assists while Victor Hedman has 63 points with 48 assists. Jake Guentzel also has 77 points with 38 goals and 39 assists. Andrei Vasilevskiy has gone 37-20-5 with a 2.20 GAA and a .921 save percentage while Jonas Johansson has gone 8-5-3 with a 3.03 GAA and a .901 save percentage on the year in goal for Tampa Bay.
Why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win
- The Sabres have lost each of their last seven games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Lightning.
- The home team has won each of the Sabres’ last five games.
- The Sabres have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five games on the second leg of a back-to-back against the Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning Player Prop Facts
- Nikita Kucherov has recorded at least one assist in eight of the Lightning’s last nine games as favorites against the Sabres.
- Cam Atkinson has scored at least one goal in each of his last four home appearances against the Sabres.
- Cam Atkinson has recorded at least one point in each of his last seven home appearances against the Sabres.
Total Goals Facts
- Seven of the Lightning’s last eight night games against Eastern Conference opponents at Amalie Arena have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Sabres’ last four games on the second leg of a back-to-back have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Three of the last four games between teams from the same division have gone OVER the total goals line.
Lightning vs Sabres Prediction
I’m on the Lightning in this one. I get the case to be made for the Sabres here, but this just feels like a must-win spot for the Lightning and being at home, I think we get their best in this one. The Sabres have been providing a ton of value down the stretch, but I just think the better team wins out here, and that’s Tampa Bay.