bayesRatings

Lightning at Sabres

NHL · Sunday, Mar 8 · 5:00 PM CT · KeyBank Center · Final TB 7 – BUF 8

Final Box Score

from the game summary
Team123T
TB0437
BUF1348
Team box
TB·BUF
28
shots
42
1 of 2
power play
4 of 7
50.0
faceoff %
50.0
40
hits
27
6
blocked shots
15
57
penalty minutes
45
Top performers
Goalies
GoalieTeamSASVSV%
Jonas JohanssonTB4234.810
Ukko-Pekka LuukkonenBUF2822.786

For context, not in our forecast.

Game Flow

score margin
BUF +3
TB +3
P1P2P3
largest lead: BUF 3 · TB 2lead changes: 2

For context, not in our forecast.

Final · our forecast was TB 53%, BUF 47% · Updated Mar 8

Expected margin
Even
Expected score
TB 3.4 – 3.1 BUF
Expected total
6.6
LightningThe matchupSabres
−111Our fair odds+111
3.4Expected goals3.1
+0.44Power rating+0.16
3.5Goals / game3.4
2.7Allowed / game3.0
28.4Shots / game27.9
47.0Faceoff %44.9
19.7Hits / game18.8
39−22Season record38−25
6−4Last 107−3

Prediction markets

Kalshi · Polymarket US · ProphetX · Novig
TB chance · BUF chance
Our model fair52.6%47.4%
Kalshino two-sided price
Polymarket USno two-sided price
ProphetXno two-sided price
Novigno two-sided price
Full price table
TeamOur modelfairKalshi Polymarket US ProphetX Novig 
Moneyline
TBTampa Bay Lightning−11153%————
BUFBuffalo Sabres+11147%————
Spreadabout even
TBTampa Bay Lightning−0.3our margin————
BUFBuffalo Sabres+0.3our margin————
Totalwe expect 6.6
Over6.6our total————
Under6.6our total————

These are each venue’s last prices before the start (Kalshi’s moneyline: its pre-game close). Odds are the price to buy that side now, taker fee included; the small percent is the implied chance of that same price. Highlighted is the best price in the row among venues on the same line. — means not listed (hover or tap for why). A market price is not the true chance of winning.

Margin range

Even game expected
Tampa Bay Lightning by 6 goals: 1%Tampa Bay Lightning by 5 goals: 3%Tampa Bay Lightning by 4 goals: 7%Tampa Bay Lightning by 3 goals: 13%Tampa Bay Lightning by 2 goals: 11%Tampa Bay Lightning by 1 goal: 18%Buffalo Sabres by 1 goal: 22%Buffalo Sabres by 2 goals: 8%Buffalo Sabres by 3 goals: 9%Buffalo Sabres by 4 goals: 5%Buffalo Sabres by 5 goals: 2%Buffalo Sabres by 6 goals: <1%
← TB wins byBUF wins by →
Tampa Bay Lightning wins by 2 or more35%
Tampa Bay Lightning wins by 3 or more24%
Buffalo Sabres wins by 2 or more25%
Decided by one goal41%

Centered on the expected margin above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Total range

6.6 expected
1 goals: 1%2 goals: 2%3 goals: 9%4 goals: 7%5 goals: 19%6 goals: 11%7 goals: 19%8 goals: 9%9 goals: 12%10 goals: 4%11 goals: 4%12 goals: 1%13 goals: 1%14 goals: <1%
Total goals, both teams
Total over 5.562%
Total over 6.551%
Total over 7.532%
Total from 6 to 730%

Centered on the expected total above; shape from each team's expected goals, with ties after regulation settled as one-goal games, matched to 7,066 past NHL games.

Starting Goalies

from the box score
TBJonas Johansson G · last 5 starts: .871 save %, 3.53 GAAstarted
BUFUkko-Pekka Luukkonen G · last 5 starts: .949 save %, 1.62 GAAstarted

Starting goalies are part of our forecast.

Rest and Schedule

before this game
TB·BUF
Mar 7 at TOR
last game
Mar 7 vs NSH
0 days
days of rest
0 days
yes
back-to-back
yes
3
games in last 7 days
3
4th straight road game
home / road
2nd straight home game

For context, not in our forecast.

Team Comparison

2025–26 season · box-score averages from 61+ games
TB·BUF
+0.44
rating (0 = average)
+0.16
3.5
goals / game
3.4
2.7
goals allowed / game
3.0
39−22
season record
38−25
19−10
home record
19−11
20−12
away record
19−14
W1
streak
W6
6−4
last 10
7−3
28.4
shots / game
27.9
47.0
faceoff %
44.9
19.7
hits / game
18.8
12.7
blocked shots / game
14.7
4.1
takeaways / game
5.1
14.7
giveaways / game
16.0

Rating Trend

TB · BUF · 123 days
Tampa Bay LightningBuffalo Sabres
Rating (0 = average team)

Head to Head

last 10 meetings · BUF 6−4
Feb 28at TBBUF 6 − 2
Feb 3at TBTB 4 − 3 OT
Apr 13, 2025at TBTB 7 − 4
Apr 5, 2025at BUFBUF 3 − 2 SO
Mar 6, 2025at TBTB 6 − 5
Apr 15, 2024at TBBUF 4 − 2
Feb 29, 2024at TBBUF 3 − 2 OT
Jan 20, 2024at BUFTB 3 − 1
Oct 17, 2023at BUFBUF 3 − 2 OT
Mar 4, 2023at BUFBUF 5 − 3

TB · Last 10

6−4 · streak W1
Mar 7at TOR5 − 2W
Mar 5at WPG1 − 4L
Mar 3at MIN1 − 5L
Feb 28vs BUF2 − 6L
Feb 26at CAR4 − 5L
Feb 25vs TOR4 − 2W
Feb 5vs FLA6 − 1W
Feb 3vs BUF4 − 3W
Feb 1vs BOS6 − 5W
Jan 29vs WPG4 − 1W

BUF · Last 10

7−3 · streak W6
Mar 7vs NSH3 − 2W
Mar 5at PIT5 − 1W
Mar 3vs VGK3 − 2W
Feb 28at TB6 − 2W
Feb 27at FLA3 − 2W
Feb 25at NJ2 − 1W
Feb 5vs PIT2 − 5L
Feb 3at TB3 − 4L
Feb 2at FLA5 − 3W
Jan 31vs MTL2 − 4L