Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 4/6/2026 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Monday, April 6, 2026

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

The Buffalo Sabres (46-23-8) will play the Tampa Bay Lightning (48-22-6) at KeyBank Center on Monday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will head into their next game feeling good after earning a 3-1 victory against the Bruins in the last game they played. Tampa Bay amassed 8 mins in the box in this matchup. Additionally, they had 1 power play opportunity but didn't convert it into a score. The Lightning had a middle of the road offensive performance in this win. For the game, they converted 3 of the 23 shots they attempted.

In relation to their scoring, the Tampa Bay Lightning have racked up 273 goals (2nd in the NHL) over the course of the season and have surrendered 209. For the current season, they sit with 102 points and their points percentage sits at .671. Tampa Bay has tallied 230 power play chances and they have notched 50 goals out of those tries, garnering them a rate of 21.74%. At even strength, the Lightning have allowed the opponent to score 167 goals while earning 223 of their own. Tampa Bay has attempted 2,155 shots and holds a shot percentage of 12.7%. The Lightning so far have had 2,033 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .897. Tampa Bay Lightning opponents have tallied 237 power play tries (5th in hockey) and have come away with 42 goals in those attempts.

The player in the crease for this game is Andrei Vasilevskiy. Vasilevskiy has played in 594 games over the course of his NHL career. He has earned a mark of 368-176-39 and he has started in 584 games. Opponents have tallied 1,458 goals versus Vasilevskiy in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 2.50. Vasilevskiy has seen 17,488 shots taken against him and has accrued 16,030 total saves. His save percentage is at .917 in his 28,753 mins on the ice. Over the course of his time in hockey, Vasilevskiy has earned 344 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .589.

In their last outing, Buffalo faced the Capitals in a game where the Sabres were on the wrong end of the score by a final of 6-2. They had 5 opportunities on the power play in this one but weren't able to notch a goal. The Sabres tallied 2 goals of the 39 shots on goal they tried.

Buffalo has taken 2,176 shots (13th in hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.99%, while allowing their opponents 2,255 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 82.08% on their oppositions 212 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is 89.8%. They have recorded 231 power play chances and they have earned a power play percentage of 20.78%. The Sabres have tallied 213 goals at even strength and 48 goals (15th in hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 231 goals to be scored by of a combination of 193 goals at even strength and 38 goals while they had less men on the ice. For the season, the Buffalo Sabres have notched a total of 261 goals, 100 points, and a points percentage of .649.

On the other side of the ice you will find Alex Lyon protecting the net. Lyon has accumulated a career record of 71-48-15 and has been in goal for 149 games. Lyon's rate of quality starts comes in at 55.2% and he has qualified for 74 quality starts in his professional career. He has tallied 3,670 saves out of 4,065 shots tried, which gives him a percentage of .903. His opposition is averaging 2.95 goals/game and he has conceded 395 goals overall. He has started in 134 contests and his ice time sits at 6,072 minutes.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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