Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Lightning (39-18-4) take on the Buffalo Sabres (38-19-6) as a part of Sunday's NHL schedule, starting at 6 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Lightning rank second in the Eastern Conference with 82 points and the Sabres are third in the Eastern Conference with 82 points.
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Lightning vs. Sabres: March 8 Viewing Options
- Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Time: 6 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Buffalo, New York
- Venue: KeyBank Center
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.48 | 5th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.66 | 2nd |
| Shots | 28.4 | 14th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.7 | 9th |
| Power Play % | 21.35% | 13th |
| Penalty Kill % | 83.42% | 3rd |
Sabres' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.40 | 7th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.95 | 12th |
| Shots | 27.8 | 17th |
| Shots Allowed | 29.8 | 26th |
| Power Play % | 19.58% | 19th |
| Penalty Kill % | 83.14% | 5th |
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Lightning vs. Sabres Top Players
Lightning
- One of Tampa Bay's top offensive players this season is Nikita Kucherov, who has put up 100 points in 57 games.
- With 27 goals and 40 assists, Jake Guentzel is one of the top offensive options for Tampa Bay with his 67 points (1.1 per game).
- Through 56 games, Brandon Hagel has proven himself as a scoring option for Tampa Bay. He has 57 points (29 goals and 28 assists).
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (29-10-3) has a 2.3 goals against average and a save percentage of .914 for Tampa Bay.
Sabres
- Tage Thompson has put up 66 points (1.0 per game) for Buffalo, with 34 goals and 32 assists in 63 games (playing 19:08 per game).
- Rasmus Dahlin is a top offensive contributor for Buffalo with 54 total points this season. He has scored 12 goals and added 42 assists in 59 games.
- Alex Tuch is a key contributor on offense for Buffalo with 24 goals and 29 assists.
- Alex Lyon has a .915 save percentage (third-best in the league), with 785 total saves, conceding 74 goals (2.6 goals against average). He has put together a 17-8-3 record this season.
Lightning vs. Sabres Injury Report
Lightning
Max Crozier: Out (Abdomen),
Dominic James: Out (Leg),
Nicholas Paul: Out (Undisclosed),
Gage Goncalves: Day-To-Day (Lower Body)
Sabres
Conor Timmins: Out (Leg),
Jordan Greenway: Out (Abdomen),
Jiri Kulich: Out For Season (Ear),
Justin Danforth: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),
Tyson Kozak: Day-To-Day (Undisclosed)
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Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/3/2026 | Wild | L 5-1 | Away |
| 3/5/2026 | Jets | L 4-1 | Away |
| 3/7/2026 | Maple Leafs | W 5-2 | Away |
| 3/8/2026 | Sabres | - | Away |
| 3/10/2026 | Blue Jackets | - | Home |
| 3/12/2026 | Red Wings | - | Home |
| 3/14/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Home |
Sabres' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/3/2026 | Golden Knights | W 3-2 | Home |
| 3/5/2026 | Penguins | W 5-1 | Away |
| 3/7/2026 | Predators | W 3-2 | Home |
| 3/8/2026 | Lightning | - | Home |
| 3/10/2026 | Sharks | - | Home |
| 3/12/2026 | Capitals | - | Home |
| 3/14/2026 | Maple Leafs | - | Home |