Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Lightning (38-15-4) and the Buffalo Sabres (34-19-6) take the ice in Tampa, Florida on February 28, 2026 at Benchmark International Arena, starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Lightning are first and the Sabres third in the Eastern Conference.
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Lightning vs. Sabres: Feb. 28 Viewing Options
- Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Venue: Benchmark International Arena
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Lightning's 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.56 | 2nd |
| Goals Allowed | 2.54 | 2nd |
| Shots | 28.2 | 15th |
| Shots Allowed | 26.5 | 7th |
| Power Play % | 21.67% | 13th |
| Penalty Kill % | 83.15% | 5th |
Sabres' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.34 | 9th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.03 | 14th |
| Shots | 27.8 | 18th |
| Shots Allowed | 29.8 | 26th |
| Power Play % | 20% | 15th |
| Penalty Kill % | 82.5% | 7th |
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Lightning vs. Sabres Top Players
Lightning
- Nikita Kucherov is one of Tampa Bay's leading contributors this season with 95 points. He has averaged 0.5 goals per game, shooting 19.4%.
- Jake Guentzel is another of Tampa Bay's top contributors currently with 63 total points (26 goals and 37 assists) to his name.
- Tampa Bay's scoring effort is aided by Brandon Hagel's 63 points. He's contributed 27 assists.
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (28-7-3) has a 2.1 goals against average and a save percentage of .920 for Tampa Bay.
Sabres
- Tage Thompson has put up 62 points (1.1 per game) for Buffalo, with 31 goals and 31 assists in 59 games (playing 19:10 per game).
- Alex Tuch has collected 49 points this season, with 22 goals and 27 assists.
- Rasmus Dahlin has 48 points so far, including 11 goals and 37 assists.
- Alex Lyon is 15-8-3 in 28 games this season, conceding 70 goals (2.7 goals against average) with 735 saves and a .914 save percentage (fifth-best in the league).
Lightning vs. Sabres Injury Report
Lightning
Max Crozier: Out (Abdomen),
Nicholas Paul: Out (Undisclosed),
Anthony Cirelli: Day-To-Day (Undisclosed)
Sabres
Jiri Kulich: Out (Ear),
Jordan Greenway: Out (Abdomen),
Justin Danforth: Day-To-Day (Lower Body),
Zachary Benson: Day-To-Day (Upper Body),
Conor Timmins: Out (Leg)
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Lightning's Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/5/2026 | Panthers | W 6-1 | Home |
| 2/25/2026 | Maple Leafs | W 4-2 | Home |
| 2/26/2026 | Hurricanes | L 5-4 | Away |
| 2/28/2026 | Sabres | - | Home |
| 3/3/2026 | Wild | - | Away |
| 3/5/2026 | Jets | - | Away |
| 3/7/2026 | Maple Leafs | - | Away |
Sabres' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/5/2026 | Penguins | L 5-2 | Home |
| 2/25/2026 | Devils | W 2-1 | Away |
| 2/27/2026 | Panthers | W 3-2 | Away |
| 2/28/2026 | Lightning | - | Away |
| 3/3/2026 | Golden Knights | - | Home |
| 3/5/2026 | Penguins | - | Away |
| 3/7/2026 | Predators | - | Home |