Lightning, Sabres Battle for Atlantic Division Lead

The top two teams in the Atlantic Division face off in a crucial matchup on Sunday night.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, who are tied atop the Atlantic Division standings with 82 points each, will meet on Sunday night in a pivotal clash. The Sabres are riding a six-game winning streak and bolstered their roster at the trade deadline, while the Lightning recently acquired veteran forward Corey Perry. Both teams are looking to gain the upper hand in the division race as the regular season winds down.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for the Atlantic Division title race, as the Sabres and Lightning are currently deadlocked at the top of the standings. A win could give either team a crucial advantage heading into the final stretch of the season and potentially impact their playoff seeding.

The details

The Sabres added several new players at the trade deadline, including center Sam Carrick, who made his debut on Saturday. The team is led offensively by Tage Thompson, who extended his point streak to 10 games. The Lightning, meanwhile, brought in Corey Perry to add some grit and scoring punch to their lineup. Perry scored in his Tampa Bay debut on Saturday.

  • The Sabres and Lightning will face off on Sunday, March 10, 2026.
  • The teams will close out their season series on April 6, 2026 in Buffalo.

The players

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer, who has a 10-game point streak and is a key part of the team's offensive attack.

Corey Perry

The veteran forward recently acquired by the Lightning to add physicality and scoring depth to their lineup.

Andrei Vasilevskiy

The Lightning's starting goaltender, who has a 29-10-3 record this season and is a former Vezina Trophy winner.

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What they’re saying

“The last 30 or 40 seconds was really good. Obviously, (Sam) winning a faceoff there at the end is huge for us. That's what he's unbelievable at and part of the reason he's such a good hockey player.”

— Josh Doan (yournews.com)

“He has this ability to bring guys into the fight. He knows when and how to raise the temperature on the ice.”

— Julien BriseBois, Lightning GM (yournews.com)

“It's exciting to be back and be a part of this team. It is like coming home, especially when you know a lot of guys in that room.”

— Corey Perry (yournews.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game between the Sabres and Lightning will have major implications for the Atlantic Division title race, as the two teams are currently tied atop the standings. Both teams made moves at the trade deadline to bolster their rosters for the stretch run, setting the stage for an exciting matchup between these division rivals.