The Tampa Bay Lightning (44-26-5) travel to face off against the Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6) on Saturday, April 5th. This game will be played at KeyBank Center in Buffalo and televised on ESPN+. Both the Lightning and Sabres will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

Lightning vs Sabres

The Tampa Bay Lightning Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Tampa Bay’s 7-4 loss to the Jets dropped their record to 44-26-5. The Lightning held a 2-0 lead early, but Winnipeg scored seven of the game’s final nine goals.

The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for 11. Tampa Bay, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Four different Lightning players scored in the game.

The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Buffalo fell to 32-36-6 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score reached only 3.

Buffalo scored first, with Alex Tuch finding the net at 11:39 in the first period. However, the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second period to secure the win.

Tampa Bay Offense Breakdown

Tampa Bay’s offense registered 30 shots on goal and scored 4 times in their 7-4 loss to Winnipeg. Brandon Hagel netted his 7th goal of the season, while Brayden Point added his 8th on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee followed with his 4th goal, and Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th.

The Lightning opened the scoring in the first period with Hagel’s goal at 13:11, followed by Point’s power-play goal at 11:58. Chaffee tied the game 3-3 in the second period, and Kucherov’s unassisted goal in the third made it 4-4.

Sabres Offense Breakdown

Buffalo’s offense struggled in their latest game, managing just one goal in a 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch scored his 5th goal of the season, coming on a shorthanded opportunity at 8:21 in the first period. The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but couldn’t find the net again.

Buffalo had 13 giveaways and failed to convert on any power play chances. Tuch led the team with 5 shots on goal, while the Sabres were unable to register any assists in the game.

Tampa Bay Team Defense

Tampa Bay’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up seven goals to the Jets, including two empty-netters. The Lightning had tied the game at 4-4 in the 3rd period, but their defense allowed three late goals. Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage.

Buffalo Team Defense

Buffalo’s defense gave up two goals in their last game, both coming on power plays in the 2nd period. The first was at 7:49, followed by another at 14:38. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Lightning vs Sabres Trends

• Through their last ten road contests, the Lightning offense has averaged 2 goals per game while allowing an average of 2. Tampa Bay posted an overall record of 4-6 while going 4-6 ATS.
• The Sabres are 4-1 puck line in their last home games and 4-1 straight-up.
• The Sabres have played well in their last three games as the betting underdog, going 2-1 straight up and 2-1 against the spread.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the favorite, the Lightning have a straight up record of 7-3. Their record vs the puck line in these games was 6-4.

Lightning vs Sabres Prediction

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Sabres to defeat the Lightning while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at +164, I’m placing a wager on the Sabres to win outright.

Our projections have the Sabres pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Sabres, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.