Sabres vs Lightning Picks and Prediction – 3/7/2025

Buffalo is struggling, dropping four straight games, including a rough 6-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks in the last outing. The Sabres sit near the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 24-30-6 record and a 9-16-3 mark on the road. Scoring has been inconsistent, and with key injuries, they’ll have a tough challenge against a Tampa Bay squad that has been dominant at home. The Lightning are coming off a strong 6-2 win over Columbus and have won four of the last five, improving to 36-21-4 on the season. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Buffalo’s offense is led by Tage Thompson, who has 30 goals and 53 points on the season. Rasmus Dahlin has been a strong playmaker with 39 assists, but the power play has been subpar, converting at just 16.8%. The Sabres score 3.15 goals per game but allow 3.45, which has been a major issue. Defensively, the team has struggled, ranking in the bottom tier in penalty kill efficiency at 76.9%. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been the main goaltender, posting a 3.06 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. 

Tampa Bay is in a much better position, sitting firmly in playoff contention while boasting a 22-7-2 record at home. Nikita Kucherov is having another MVP-caliber season, leading the team with 90 points (28 goals, 62 assists), while Brayden Point has chipped in 32 goals. The Lightning power play has been lethal, converting at 26.3%, one of the best in the league. Scoring 3.56 goals per game, the offense has been difficult for teams to contain.

Defensively, Tampa Bay has been solid, allowing just 2.61 goals per game and killing penalties at 81.0%. Andrei Vasilevskiy remains an elite goaltender with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. The Lightning defense has limited opponents to just 28.7 shots per game, and with Buffalo’s scoring struggles, this could be a one-sided matchup. 

Buffalo is struggling, losing four straight, while Tampa Bay has won four of five and dominates at home. The Lightning’s power play is significantly better (26.3% vs. 16.8%), and the defense is far superior, allowing nearly a goal less per game. With Vasilevskiy in net and Kucherov leading the offense, Tampa Bay should handle this one with ease. Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay Lightning wins on the puck line 5-2.