Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Buffalo Sabres game time, live stream, and why this matchup is already decided

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 6, 2025, 21:46 IST

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The Tampa Bay Lightning are poised for an easy victory against the Buffalo Sabres, given their superior offensive and defensive performance. With key players like Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy excelling, Tampa Bay is well-prepared, while Buffalo continues to struggle with inconsistent scoring and goaltending.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Buffalo Sabres game time, live stream, and why this matchup is already decided

(Image via Getty)

The Tampa Bay Lightning (36-21-4) host the Buffalo Sabres (24-30-6) at Amalie Arena on March 6. Puck drops at 7 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPN. Tampa Bay sits comfortably in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 76 points. Buffalo? Dead last with 54 points.
This isn’t exactly a matchup of equals. The Lightning are built for the postseason. The Sabres are playing out the season. The numbers don’t lie—Tampa Bay ranks second in the NHL in goals per game (3.56), while Buffalo is near the bottom in goals allowed per game (3.45, 29th in the league). The gap is obvious, and unless something wild happens, Tampa Bay should walk away with two easy points.

Tampa Bay Lightning are in playoff form, Buffalo Sabres are in survival mode

The Lightning look ready for a deep run. Nikita Kucherov leads the team with 89 points, averaging half a goal per game while shooting at an efficient 13.9%. Brandon Hagel is at 68 points, and Brayden Point has 64 in just 56 games. They’re clicking at the right time, and with Andrei Vasilevskiy in net (29-16-3 record), they don’t have many weaknesses.

Buffalo, on the other hand, is barely holding on. Tage Thompson leads the team with 53 points, but the production beyond him drops fast. John-Jason Peterka has 49 points, and Rasmus Dahlin has 48, but the depth scoring is non-existent. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s .892 save percentage ranks 51st in the league—not ideal for a team getting peppered with shots nightly.

Why Tampa Bay Lightning should have this game wrapped up in two periods

Buffalo has been in freefall. Three straight losses to the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks—teams that aren’t exactly contenders—expose all of their flaws. Their defense can’t stop anything, and the goaltending isn’t bailing them out.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay just lit up the Columbus Blue Jackets for six goals and kept the Washington Capitals to just one. They’re dominant at home and rarely drop games against lower-tier teams.
Unless the Sabres come out playing like a different team, this should be over early. Tampa Bay’s offense is too sharp, their defense too solid, and Buffalo’s inability to close games makes a comeback unlikely. Expect Tampa Bay to put this one away before the third period even starts.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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