NHL Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning with Line Combinations 3/6/2025

Buffalo Sabres (24-30-6, 54 pts) at Tampa Bay Lightning (36-21-4, 76 Pts)

Venue: Amalie Arena
Date: Thursday, March 6
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/MSG-/FDSN SUN
Radio:
Buffalo – WGR 550 AM
Tampa Bay – 102.5 The Bone

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Buffalo +1.5 ML +200
Tampa Bay -1.5 ML -240
O/U 6.5

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Buffalo Sabres News & Notes:

The Sabres dropped their fourth straight on Tuesday in a 6-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. In the current losing streak, they’ve allowed 4.75 goals per game while scoring 2.25 goals per game. It’s been a rough season in Buffalo, it’ll be curious who is still on the roster after 3:00 PM EST tomorrow.

Tampa Bay Lightning News & Notes

The Lightning picked up a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday in a 6-2 win. They’ve now won nine of their last ten averaging 4.10 goals per game while allowing 1.70 goals per game. They’ve added Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Seattle Kraken with both expected to play tonight.

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines:

Peterka-Kulich-Thompson
Greenway-Cozens-Tuch
Benson-McLeod-Quinn
Malenstyn-Krebs-Lafferty

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Byram-Power
Bryson-Clifton

Luukkonen
Reimer

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Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lines

Guentzel-Point-Kucherov
Hagel-Cirelli-Paul
Goncalves-Gourde-Bjorkstrand
Chaffee-Glendening-Girgensons

Hedman-Moser
McDonagh-Cernak
Lilleberg-Raddysh

Vasilevskiy
Johansson

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Tampa Bay Hockey – Inside The Rink

Players To Watch:

Buffalo Sabres

Dylan Cozens this season has 31 points on 11 goals and 20 assists. He’s faced the Lightning 11 times in his career recording eight points on five goals and three assists; in four games last season he had five points on four goals and an assist.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Brandon Hagel this season has 68 points on 30 goals and 38 assists. He’s faced the Sabres nine times in his career recording 11 points on five goals and six assists; in the four meetings last season he had two goals and two assists.

Injury Report:

Buffalo Sabres

F Jason Zucker – DTD

Tampa Bay Lightning

None

Next Game:

Buffalo – March 8 at Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay – March 8 vs. Boston Bruins

ITR 30: Down The Stretch – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as they discuss the NHL General Managers Meetings, Connor Bedard's antics, Mikko Rantanen returning to Colorado, Gabriel Landeskog resumes skating with the team, Ovechkin's Gr8 Chase, and NHL Playoff updates.

1. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
2. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
3. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07
4. ITR 27: Trade Season Begins 01:07:33
5. ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting 42:17