The Buffalo Sabres are looking to build on their successful 2025-26 campaign, where they finished atop the highly competitive Atlantic Division during the regular season, defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, then were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. At TheHockeyNews.com, as part of an annual series called “Know Your Enemy,” we’re examining the Sabres’ opponents in the Eastern Conference by analyzing their performance last season and predicting how they might fare this year. Today’s focus is on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Last season, the Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division, trailing Buffalo by just three points. They matched the Sabres in wins and are expected to be one of Buffalo’s strongest competitors this season. Here’s a look at how the matchup might play out from my perspective:
New additions for Tampa Bay: Ilya Mikheyev (LW), John Carlson (D), Dennis Hildeby (G), Jeffrey Viel (LW)
2025-26 Head-to-Head Record: Sabres 3-0-1, Lightning 1-3-0
Upcoming 2026-27 Matchups: November 11 at Buffalo, November 22 at Tampa Bay, January 2 at Tampa Bay, April 5 at Buffalo
Can the Sabres beat Tampa Bay? The Lightning emerged as one of the league’s top teams, especially after their offseason improvements. With Victor Hedman returning to full health and the addition of free-agent defender John Carlson—who replaced Darren Raddysh—the team has strengthened its roster. Carlson’s arrival is seen as an upgrade, and GM Julien BriseBois also bolstered the squad by signing Mikheyev and acquiring promising goalie Dennis Hildeby from Toronto. Hildeby, who was stuck behind Toronto’s depth, could thrive in Tampa Bay’s environment and take on 25-30 games, helping star goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stay fresh for postseason runs.
While the Sabres can definitely challenge Tampa Bay, it won’t be easy—there’s a real possibility they could be swept. The Sabres’ season could swing between major success or significant setbacks when facing the Lightning, who boast an array of superstars like Jake Guentzel, Nikita Kucherov, Hedman, Brayden Point, and newcomer Carlson, all capable of overwhelming opponents. Buffalo will face Tampa twice in early November, once again after New Year’s, and finally on April 5—a game that could impact playoff seeding and possibly set up a first-round matchup. Historically, despite winning three of four last season’s matchups and never losing in regulation to Tampa Bay, the Sabres face a team with equal or greater talent and skill, promising high-caliber hockey whenever the teams meet.
Fan Take: This matchup is critical because it highlights the fierce competition within the Atlantic Division and shows how a few key additions can elevate a team’s title chances. For hockey fans, these battles promise exciting, high-stakes games that could define the playoff landscape and keep the sport thrilling to watch.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
