Game Details
- Puck drop is scheduled for 5:30 PM ET (2:30 PM PT)
- Venue: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
- Broadcast: ESPN+, MSG-B, FDSNSO
This interconference matchup features the Nashville Predators traveling to face the surging Buffalo Sabres. Buffalo, on a five-game win streak, looks to extend their strong home form and solidify their top spot in the Atlantic, while Nashville aims to rebound from recent inconsistencies and climb the Central standings.
Recent Team Forms
The Sabres enter with strong momentum, while the Predators have been inconsistent but showed offensive firepower in their latest win.
Nashville Predators (4-3-3 in last 10 games): Nashville averages 3.1 goals per game in their last 10 while allowing 3.6, with a 22.8% power play and 80.3% penalty kill. They’ve alternated wins and losses, trending under in 6 of their last 7. Key recent results:
- Mar 5 vs. BOS: W 6-3 (Filip Forsberg: 2 G, 1 A)
- Mar 3 @ CBJ: L 2-3
- Mar 2 vs. DET: L 2-4
- Feb 28 @ DAL: L 2-3
- Feb 26 vs. CHI: W 4-2
- Feb 24 @ WSH: L 2-4
- Feb 22 vs. MIN: L 5-6
- Feb 20 @ STL: W 6-5
- Feb 18 @ NYI: W 4-3
- Feb 15 @ NJD: L 2-3
Nashville has gone under the total in 6 of their last 7 and is 4-6 ATS in that span, struggling on the road (2-3 in last 5 away).
Buffalo Sabres (7-2-1 in last 10 games): Buffalo averages 3.5 goals per game in their last 10 while allowing 2.5, boasting a 20.1% power play and 83.4% penalty kill. They’re on a five-game win streak, outscoring opponents 20-8. Key recent results:
- Mar 5 @ PIT: W 5-1 (Tage Thompson: 2 G)
- Mar 3 vs. VGK: W 3-2
- Feb 28 @ TBL: W 6-2
- Feb 27 @ FLA: W 3-2
- Feb 25 @ NJD: W 3-2
- Feb 23 vs. FLA: W 3-2 OT
- Feb 22 @ TBL: W 6-2
- Feb 20 vs. VGK: L 2-3
- Feb 18 vs. PIT: W 2-1
- Feb 15 vs. TBL: L 3-4 OT
Buffalo is 6-4 ATS in their last 10 and has gone over in 5 of their last 7 home games against Western teams.
Injury Report
Injuries impact Buffalo’s depth more significantly, while Nashville monitors a key forward.
Nashville Predators:
- Ryan O’Reilly (C): Day-to-Day (face/upper body; took stick to face, expected to be evaluated but participated in skate)
- Adam Wilsby (D): Out (lower body; week-to-week, expected out until at least Mar 15)
Buffalo Sabres:
- Tyson Kozak (F): Day-to-Day (undisclosed)
- Jordan Greenway (F): Out (abdomen/middle body; on IR since Jan. 27/Feb. 25)
- Conor Timmins (D): Out (leg/broken leg; on IR, expected back late February/March)
- Justin Danforth (RW): Out (lower body/knee/broken kneecap; on IR since Oct. 15, post-Olympic return possible)
- Jiri Kulich (F): Out (blood clot; on IR since Nov. 1, significant time/miss remainder of season)
- Zach Benson (F): Questionable (upper body; missed recent games, progressing but monitoring)
Key Player Matchups
Buffalo’s offensive depth faces Nashville’s defensive core, with special teams potentially deciding the game given both teams’ solid PK units.
- Filip Forsberg (NSH, LW) vs. Rasmus Dahlin (BUF, D): Forsberg (projected 30+ goals, recent 3-point game) leads Nashville’s attack with speed and shooting (high SOG). Dahlin (defensive leader, 4 G, 12 A in last 10) must contain Forsberg’s drives, but his offensive contributions (25+ min TOI) add a counter-threat.
- Roman Josi (NSH, D) vs. Tage Thompson (BUF, C): Josi (3 G, 8 A in last 10, 27+ min TOI) anchors Nashville’s blue line with playmaking. Thompson (6 G, 5 A in last 10, two-goal game vs. PIT) exploits mismatches with size and shot; Josi’s mobility (high +/-) will be key to limiting Buffalo’s top line.
- Juuse Saros (NSH, G) vs. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF, G): Saros (.905 SV% recently) faces a high-shot Buffalo attack (30+ SA avg.). Luukkonen (strong form post-injury, .920 SV% in wins) must handle Nashville’s perimeter play; this goaltending duel could keep scoring low.
Other notables: Jonathan Marchessault (NSH) vs. Alex Tuch (BUF) for wing scoring; Steven Stamkos (NSH) vs. Jack Quinn (BUF) on special teams.
Series History
Buffalo leads the all-time series 21-14-3 (or 16-18-4 per some sources), with a 16-20-1-1 edge including ties/OTL. Recent meetings favor Buffalo, who have won 5 of the last 10. Key recent results:
sports-reference.com +5
- Jan 20, 2026: BUF 5-3 @ NSH
- Feb 9, 2025: BUF 4-6 @ NSH (NSH win)
- Dec 3, 2024: NSH 2-1 @ BUF (NSH last win)
- Mar 7, 2024: BUF 4-3 vs. NSH
Buffalo is 5-5 in the last 10 head-to-head, with unders hitting in 6 of the last 7.
Betting Trends
- Puck Line: Predators have covered +1.5 in 6 of last 7 as underdogs; Sabres 12-6 SU at home.
- Total: Under has hit in 6 of Predators’ last 7 and 4 of Sabres’ last 5 home games.
- ATS Trends: Sabres 36-23 ATS overall (18-11 at home); Predators 32-26 ATS (11-18 away). Predators 5-17 SU in last 22 in 4-in-6 situations; Sabres 7-3 ATS in last 10.
Game Odds
Nashville Predators 6.5
Buffalo Sabres – 185
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 6, 2026
