Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Hockey's Hottest Teams

The NHL season, as we know it is coming to a close, with the Winter Olympics on the horizon in Milano Cortina. Needless to say, hockey fans are thrilled with the decision to include NHL athletes in the Olympics for the first time since 2014. It will be a real showcase of superstardom on the ice, with Canada and the USA the two favorites to win gold. Unfortunately for viewers, Russia, who would be a contender, will not be able to put a team on the ice this time around as the federation are still suspended from the Olympics.

In the meantime, two of the league's hottest teams go head-to-head in an Eastern Conference showcase with plenty of postseason implications. It's the Buffalo Sabres (32-18-5) taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning (35-14-4). While the Sabres have won 21 of their last 26 games, the Lightning have done one better, winning 17 of their last 19.

The Lightning are only one point off the top of the Eastern Conference, behind the Carolina Hurricanes and the Detroit Red Wings, though Tampa Bay have several games in hand on their foes. The Sabres, meanwhile, hold the top Wild Card spot and are two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for a top-three place in the Atlantic Division.

Without further ado, we'll go take a look at all the best bets for this game, as well as some key betting trends that could help you score a big win tonight.

All Odds as of 8:00 a.m. ET on Feb. 3

Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning Odds

🏒 Odds via FanDuel 🥅

• Puck Line: Sabres +1.5 (-138) | Lightning -1.5 (+110)
• Moneyline: Sabres +190 | Lightning -235
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-122)

Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning Same Game Parlay (+547)

🏒 Odds via FanDuel 🥅

• Leg 1: Buffalo Sabres ML
• Leg 2: Tage Thompson Anytime Goal Scorer
• Leg 3: Rasmus Dahlin 2+ Shots on Goal

We absolutely love the Sabres tonight after Tampa Bay needed to pull out all the stops to beat the Bruins via shootout. Things could go south rather quickly for Buffalo, as they are on a back-to-back after defeating the Panthers 5-3. However, the Sabres have won four straight games in the second leg of a back-to-back, so we're not very worried about that trend.

Tage Thompson just scored one of the filthiest goals of the season last night against Florida and is up to 29 goals on the season. We love him to score number 30 and keep his unbelievable scoring run going.

Dahlin has at least two shots on goal in each of his last five games and 10 of his last 13.

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Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Trends

• The Buffalo Sabres have won four consecutive games this season when playing the second leg of a back-to-back series and are 4-1-1 on the season.
• The Buffalo Sabres are 21-4-1 in their last 26 games, picking up 43 of a possible 52 points.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning are 17-1-1 in their last 19 games, picking up 35 of a possible 38 points.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning have won three of four games as a -230 favorite or lower.
• The Buffalo Sabres have won 16 out of 28 games as a betting underdog.

How to Watch Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Location Benchmark International Arena

Date Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Puck Drop 7:30 p.m. ET

TV ESPN+, Hulu

Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning Latest Injuries

Buffalo Sabres

• Jordan Greenway | LW | Day-to-Day (Abdomen)
• Joshua Norris | C | Day-to-Day (Ribs)
• Zachary Benson | LW | Day-to-Day (Upper Body)
• Jiri Kulich | C | Out (Ear)
• Justin Danforth | RW | Out (Lower Body)
• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | G | Out (Lower Body)
• Conor Timmins | D | Out (Leg)
• Josh Dunne | C | Out (Middle Body)

Tampa Bay Lightning

• Anthony Cirelli | C | Day-to-Day (Undisclosed)
• Emil Martinsen Lilleberg | D | Out (Undisclosed)
• Brayden Point | C | Out (Lower Body)
• Charle-Edouard D'Astous| D | Out (Lower Body)