Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Sabres vs Capitals pick and preview and see who we think will win and cover the puck line in Washington.
- The Sabres possess a 11-14-4 record so far.
- In terms of giveaways, the Sabres are currently 9th in the league.
- The Sabres are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Red Wings.
- The Capitals will be hosting the Sabres and hold a 20-6-2 record.
- The Capitals are are averaging 4 goals per contest so far.
- The Capitals are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Hurricanes.
Sabres vs Capitals Preview
Betting on today's Sabres and Capitals game? Catch the action at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, as the Capitals hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Capitals being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Sabres.
Sabres vs. Capitals Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NHL
- Teams: Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals
- Where: Washington at Capital One Arena
- Date: Saturday, December 14th
- Betting Odds WAS -1.5, BUF +157 | WAS -187 O/U 6
Sabres Preview: Will Buffalo Shock Everyone at Capital One Arena?
Buffalo's record dropped to 11-14-4 after a 2-1 loss to the Red Wings. The Sabres took the lead with a short-handed goal from Alex Tuch in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two goals in the second to secure the win.
The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3. Buffalo, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Their defense allowed both goals in the second period, with Dylan Larkin scoring each time.
Buffalo's offense managed 32 shots on goal but only found the net once in their 2-1 loss to Detroit. Alex Tuch scored his 5th goal of the season, an unassisted, shorthanded effort 8:21 into the first period. The Sabres recorded 13 giveaways.
After Tuch's goal, the Sabres were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. No Sabres player registered an assist in this matchup.
Buffalo's defense started strong, shutting out Detroit in the first period, but they allowed two power-play goals in the second, leading to a 2-1 loss. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the Sabres' defense had 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
Capitals Preview: Will the Capitals Make it Happen at Home?
After a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes, the Capitals now stand at 20-6-2 this season. Washington's defense struggled, allowing 44 shots on goal, while their offense went scoreless after the first period.
The total for the game was set at 6 goals, and the combined score hit that number exactly. Washington was the underdog on the puck line, and they failed to cover. The Capitals scored both of their goals in the first period, but the Hurricanes responded with four unanswered goals.
Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season, opening the scoring for the Capitals with a power-play goal at 19:16 in the first period. Brandon Duhaime followed up with his 2nd goal of the season, just 33 seconds later, at 19:49 in the first. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season on Duhaime's goal, while Dylan Strome notched his 13th assist on Ovechkin's goal.
Washington registered 21 shots on goal but struggled with giveaways, tallying 15 in the game. The Capitals were held scoreless after the first period, as Carolina came back to win 4-2.
Defensively, the Capitals will look to improve after giving up the first goal and three consecutive goals to the Hurricanes in their previous game. They also allowed the Hurricanes to score the first goal, and three consecutive goals after taking a 2-1 lead. The first two came in the 2nd period, and the final one was an empty netter with 9 seconds left in the 3rd period. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the Capitals' defense faced a lot of pressure, with 44 shots on goal against them.
Sabres vs Capitals Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Through their last three road games, Buffalo has an puck line record of just 1-2. However, their overall record was 2-1 while averaging 2 goals per game.
- Although Washington has a straight up record of 1-2 in their last three home games, they have not held up as well vs the puck line going 1-2. The team averaged 2 goals per game in these games.
- As the betting underdog, the Capitals have an puck line mark of just 9-1 in their last ten games. Washington posted a straight up mark of 7-3 in these matchups.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Sabres have gone 3-7 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 6-4.
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Sabres vs Capitals Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: UNDER 6 Goals
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