Sabres Aim to Break Slump Against Lightning on March 6

TAMPA, Fla. – The Buffalo Sabres will look to end a four-game winless streak when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday at Amalie Arena. The Sabres have struggled recently, with a record of 0-3-1 in their last four games, including a 6-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at home on Tuesday.

JJ Peterka and Tage Thompson were among the scorers in the loss against San Jose, which saw the game tied close to the end of the second period. Tonight’s match will be the last for Buffalo before the trade deadline, set for 3 p.m. on Friday. On Wednesday, the organization reinforced its roster by extending Jordan Greenway‘s contract for two years.

Game time is set for 7 p.m., and fans can watch on ESPN or stream via ESPN+. Radio coverage will be provided by WGR 550.

In net for the Sabres, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen participated in the morning skate and is expected to start. Meanwhile, Jason Zucker will miss his fifth consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. The team ran no line rushes during the morning skate, with projected lines to be confirmed after warmups at 6:30 p.m.

Greenway’s recent contract extension solidified his role as a key veteran presence on the team, noted for his effective penalty-killing abilities. Since the beginning of last season, he ranks second among NHL forwards in shorthanded ice time. His 52.12 expected goals-for percentage ranks third on the Sabres this season.

Tonight’s matchup marks the Sabres’ fourth game in six days. Buffalo will play a total of 12 games within 24 days in March, with eight of those on the road. “There’s no excuses,” Thompson said following the recent loss. “Everybody is playing 82 games. You can sit here and make all the excuses in the world, but when you lace them up, you better battle.”

The Sabres and Lightning have yet to meet this season, with two additional matchups scheduled for April. Currently, the Lightning rank third in the Atlantic Division with 76 points, trailing Florida and Toronto. Recently, Tampa Bay enhanced its roster by acquiring forwards Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand from Seattle in exchange for two first-round picks. Gourde and Bjorkstrand are expected to play tonight alongside a Lightning roster featuring four players with 60 or more points.

This game also holds significance for former Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons, who now plays for the Lightning after a free agency move last summer.