Tampa Bay Lightning (44-26-5) vs. Buffalo Sabres (32-36-6)
Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST | KeyBank Center | Buffalo, NY
TV: MSG-B
Radio: WGR 550
Know Your Opponent
Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 44-25-5 | 93 PTS
Division Ranking: 2nd in Atlantic Division
Last Game: 2-1 Loss vs. Ottawa Senators
PP: 25.5% (6th); Sabres: 18.3% (26th)
PK: 82.4% (4th); Sabres: 76.3% (T22nd)
What to Watch
1. Goals Galore
In true Buffalo fashion, the Sabres have really amped up the scoring during these last few weeks of the regular season (and, of course, excluding the postseason yet again). In their last four matchups, they have scored an impressive 24 goals and, incidentally, are 7-3-0 in their last 10. In other shocking news, forward Peyton Krebs has become…impressive? He is currently on a five-game point streak – a career-best – and has earned six points in those games. Another forward to keep an eye on is, as always, Tage Thompson. If he scores tonight, it will mark the second time in his career that he has reached or surpassed the 40-goal mark. His career-high in both goals (47) and points (94) still dwells in the 2022-2023 season, but he has been solid this year. Another solid, reliable two-way player is Alex Tuch. Like Thompson, Tuch’s best season was during 2022-2023, but with five more goals before the end of the season, he could surpass his career-high. He is currently riding a four-game point streak.
Will the high scoring continue tonight?
2. An Interesting Stat…
The NHL teams with the most goals this season include all playoff-bound teams – including our southern opponents tonight – except for, you guessed it, the Sabres. Buffalo is in the top 10 with most goals for at 244, but will miss the postseason yet again this year. In their last six games, they have averaged 5.33(!) goals per game.
Other top teams with the most goals include the Capitals (276) and the Hurricanes (246), who have both clinched their playoff spots already. It really makes you stop and think about goaltending and defense, doesn’t it?
3. Ostlund’s First Recall
It has been a whirlwind for Rochester Americans forward Noah Ostlund who was drafted back in 2022. For the first time, Ostlund was recalled from the AHL on Friday morning as the Sabres look to keep their offensive momentum going. The young Swede has been getting noticed quite a bit this season, but especially during the second half as the team has just earned their sixth consecutive playoff berth. Ostlund has tallied eight goals in his last six games with Rochester and has been named both the AHL Rookie of the Month and AHL Player of the Week – both during the month of March. He joined the team for practice yesterday as well alongside Sam Lafferty and Beck Malenstyn.
Projected Lineups
Buffalo Sabres
Forwards
Zach Benson – Jiri Kulich – Tage Thompson
JJ Peterka – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker – Peyton Krebs – Alex Tuch
Beck Malenstyn – Tyson Kozak* – Sam Lafferty
*Kozak may not play tonight as he left Tuesday’s game against Ottawa with a lower-body injury. Jordan Greenway is still considered day-to-day with his lower-body injury. As mentioned above, Ostlund may get his first NHL start tonight.
Defense
Mattias Samuelsson – Rasmus Dahlin
Bowen Byram – Connor Clifton
Owen Power – Jacob Bernard-Docker
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, James Reimer (expected)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Forwards
Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Nick Paul
Oliver Bjorkstrand – Yanni Gourde – Gage Goncalves
Mitchell Chaffee – Zemgus Girgensons – Cam Atkinson
Defense
Victor Hedman – J.J. Moser
Ryan McDonagh – Erik Cernak
Emil Lilleberg – Nick Perbix
Goaltenders: Jonas Johansson, Andrei Vasilevskiy