8-8-4, 4-2-4 Away

13-5-2, 8-1-0 Home

Buffalo Sabres @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Sabres

NAME	WINS	L	OTL	SO	GAA	SV%
U. Luukkonen	5	4	3	0	3.51	.867
C. Ellis	3	3	0	1	3.39	.873
A. Lyon	0	1	1	0	2.48	.909

Lightning

NAME	WINS	L	OTL	SO	GAA	SV%
A. Vasilevskiy	9	5	1	0	2.74	.889
D. Hildeby	4	0	1	0	2.56	.899

Benchmark International Arena

7:00 PM, January 2, 2027

Tampa, FL

BUF

Points

Tage ThompsonC #72

21PTS

12G

Nikita KucherovRW #86

28PTS

20A

Goals

Tage ThompsonC #72

12G

3PPG

79S

Brandon HagelLW #38

13G

1PPG

80S

Assists

Zach BensonLW #6

13A

3PPA

9+/-

Nikita KucherovRW #86

20A

6PPA

10+/-

Buffalo Sabres

Name, Pos	Status	Est. Return Date
Konsta Helenius C	IR	Nov 19
Justin Danforth RW	IR	Nov 22
Matt Grzelcyk D	IR	Nov 22

Tampa Bay Lightning

Name, Pos	Status	Est. Return Date
Erik Cernak D	Day-To-Day	Nov 17
Anthony Cirelli C	Day-To-Day	Nov 17
Brayden Point C	IR	Nov 17

team	GF/G	GAA	SF/G	SA/G	PIM	PPG	PCT	PPGA	PCT	SHG	SHGA
BUF	2.75	3.45	28.0	26.9	188	10	14.7	21	70.4	1	0
TB	3.70	2.90	29.5	25.1	162	14	20.6	15	71.7	0	0

Sabres Last 5

DATE	OPP	RESULT
11/14/26	@DAL	L2-0
11/12/26	@CHI	L3-2 OT
11/11/26	vsTB	L8-3
11/8/26	vsVGK	L4-1
11/6/26	vsCBJ	W5-2

Lightning Last 5

DATE	OPP	RESULT
11/14/26	vsDET	L2-0
11/12/26	@CBJ	W3-1
11/11/26	@BUF	W8-3
11/8/26	@WPG	L4-3
11/7/26	@MIN	W4-3 OT

Lightning vs SabresBenchmark International Arena - Sat 1/2/27, 7:00Tickets as low as $64

Buy Lightning tickets with VividSeats

Regular Season Series

TB leads 1-0

Lightning
8
Sabres
3

Game 1

11/11

Sabres
Lightning

Game 2

11/22

NHL Net

Sabres
Lightning

Game 3

1/2

Lightning
Sabres

Game 4

4/5

Team	W	L	OTL	PTS
Tampa Bay	13	5	2	28
Montreal	12	4	4	28
Ottawa	13	6	2	28
Boston	13	6	1	27
Florida	12	7	2	26
Buffalo	8	8	4	20
Detroit	8	10	3	19
Toronto	8	12	2	18

NHL Tonight: What to watch in Sunday's five showdowns

Find game previews, betting intel, broadcast information, stats and highlights here.

New York takes on Montreal following Gawdin's 2-goal showing

Montreal Canadiens (12-4-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. New York Rangers (12-8-1, in the Metropolitan Division)

Panthers take on the Stars on 3-game winning streak

Florida Panthers (12-7-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Dallas Stars (11-6-2, in the Central Division)

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Call 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. Terms: draftkings.com/sportsbook. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL.

Buffalo Sabres @ Tampa Bay Lightning

Scoring Leaders

Tage ThompsonC #72

Nikita KucherovRW #86

Tage ThompsonC #72

Brandon HagelLW #38

Zach BensonLW #6

Nikita KucherovRW #86

Injury Report

Team Stats

NHL Tonight: What to watch in Sunday's five showdowns

New York takes on Montreal following Gawdin's 2-goal showing

Panthers take on the Stars on 3-game winning streak