The Buffalo Sabres (24-30-6) travel to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning (36-21-4) on Thursday, March 6th. This game will be played at Amalie Arena in Tampa and televised on ESPN. Both the Sabres and Lightning will be looking to bounce back from losses in their previous games. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

Sabres vs Lightning

The Buffalo Sabres Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Buffalo dropped to 24-30-6 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres held a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period, but Detroit responded with two goals in the second. Buffalo was the underdog on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score falling well short of that mark.

Alex Tuch scored the only goal for the Sabres, finding the net at 11:39 in the first period. Tuch’s goal came shorthanded, but Buffalo couldn’t hold the lead, allowing two power-play goals in the second period.

The Tampa Bay Lightning Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Tampa Bay fell to 36-21-4 after a 7-4 loss to the Jets. The Lightning led 2-0 early, but Winnipeg responded with seven of the next nine goals. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 11 goals easily surpassed that mark. Tampa Bay, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover.

Four different Lightning players scored in the game. Tampa Bay’s defense struggled, giving up two empty-net goals late in the third period. The Lightning’s first goal came at 13:11 in the first period, but the Jets tied it up by 14:11 in the second.

Buffalo Offense Breakdown

Buffalo managed 32 shots on goal but only found the net once in their 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch scored his 5th goal of the season, coming on a shorthanded play at 8:21 in the first period. The Sabres had 13 giveaways and failed to score on the power play.

After Tuch’s early goal, Buffalo was held scoreless for the rest of the game. Tuch took 5 shots on goal, while the team ended the first period with a 1-0 lead before going quiet in the second and third periods.

Lightning Offense Breakdown

Brandon Hagel opened the scoring for the Lightning, netting his 7th goal of the season. Brayden Point followed with his 8th goal, which came on a power play. Mitchell Chaffee added his 4th goal, while Nikita Kucherov scored his 10th, tying the game 4-4 in the 3rd period.

The Lightning took 30 shots on goal and recorded 8 giveaways. They scored twice in the 1st period, added a 3rd goal in the 2nd, and notched their final goal in the 3rd period.

Buffalo Team Defense

Buffalo held a 1-0 lead after the first period, but their defense gave up two goals in the second, both on the power play. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, and the Sabres’ defense finished with 5 takeaways and 17 hits.

Tampa Bay Team Defense

Defensively, the Lightning struggled late, giving up the final two goals in the 2nd period and four more in the 3rd, leading to a 7-4 loss. Goalie Jonas Johansson made 27 saves with an 84.4% save percentage. Tampa Bay’s defense also recorded 6 takeaways and 16 hits.

Sabres vs Lightning Trends

• In their last five games away from home, the Sabres have a straight up record of 0-5 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 2 goals per game in these contests.
• Across their last three home contests, Tampa Bay has been good against the puck line posting a mark of 3-0. Their overall mark in these games was 3-0, while averaging 4 goals per game.
• In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Lightning have a straight up record of 2-3 and an puck line mark of 4-1.
• The last three games that Buffalo was favored, they have an puck line mark of 0-3 while going 1-2 straight up.

Sabres vs Lightning Prediction

To those searching for a pure moneyline wager, the Lightning is the clear pick. Still, with a payout of -227, it’s worth thinking about including this bet in a parlay.

When it comes to my suggested pick for the puck line, I’d advise taking the Sabres to cover. Even in the event of a Lightning victory, this matchup is likely to remain closely contested, and the Sabres should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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

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* 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.