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Washington Capitals vs. Buffalo Sabres: Preview, Predictions and Picks for January 6, 2025

Updated on:
Jan 6, 2025 8:55 PM
The Washington Capitals, currently sitting atop the Metropolitan Division, travel to KeyBank Center on Monday, January 6 to take on the struggling Buffalo Sabres, who are looking to snap a losing streak. The Capitals, with a strong 26-10-3 record, will aim to build on their 1-0 series lead against the Sabres, who are fighting to turn their season around with a 14-21-5 record. This matchup is set to drop the puck at 7:00 PM.
Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres

Current Odds

WSH
BUF
Over
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-
Under
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WSH
-
-
BUF
-
-
WSH
ML
-110
BUF
ML
-105

Capitals vs Sabres statistics

Stat Capitals Sabres
Goals For per Game 3.72 3.03
Goals Against Average 2.64 3.40
Shots per Game 28.2 27.0
Shots Against per Game 27.6 29.1
Power Play Goals 27 20
Power Play Goals Against 19 27
Short Handed Goals 3 3
Short Handed Goals Against 0 0
Penalty Minutes 338 396
Power Play Percentage 23.5 17.9
Penalty Kill Percentage 84.2 78.2

Buffalo Sabres recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
1/4/25 @ Vegas Golden Knights L 3-1
1/2/25 @ Colorado Avalanche L 6-5 OT
12/31/24 @ Dallas Stars L 4-2
12/29/24 @ St. Louis Blues W 4-2
12/27/24 vs Chicago Blackhawks W 6-2

Washington Capitals recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
1/4/25 vs New York Rangers W 7-4
1/2/25 vs Minnesota Wild L 4-3 SO
12/31/24 vs Boston Bruins W 3-1
12/29/24 @ Detroit Red Wings L 4-2
12/28/24 @ Toronto Maple Leafs W 5-2

Buffalo Sabres injuries

  • Jacob Bryson (D): Day-To-Day
  • Nicolas Aube-Kubel (RW): Day-To-Day
  • Rasmus Dahlin (D): Out
  • Ryan McLeod (C): Day-To-Day
  • Sam Lafferty (C): Injured Reserve

Washington Capitals injuries

  • Martin Fehervary (D): Day-To-Day
  • Alex Ovechkin (LW): Injured Reserve
  • Lars Eller (C): Injured Reserve
  • Andrew Mangiapane (LW): Day-To-Day
  • Tom Wilson (RW): Day-To-Day

Capitals vs Sabres game info

Type Info
Venue KeyBank Center
Location Buffalo, NY
Puck drop Mon 7:00 PM
TV MNMT

Capitals vs Sabres predictions

Looking at the Washington Capitals, it's hard not to focus on the powerhouse that is Alex Ovechkin, even though he’s currently on injured reserve. With 19 goals to his name already this season, his absence might feel like a hurdle. Yet, the Capitals have shown time and again that they can adapt. With Ovechkin out, eyes turn to Dylan Strome, who’s been a consistent playmaker with 32 assists and leading the team with 44 points. Expect Strome to be pivotal in leading the charge against the Sabres. With a road record that boasts 13 wins, the Capitals seem poised to continue their strong performance on the ice.

Shifting gears to the Buffalo Sabres, it's a similar story with a different melody. Tage Thompson, much like Ovechkin, reigns as the top goal scorer with 18 strikes this season but is unfortunately on reserve with an injury. It's not ideal for Buffalo, especially given their home record of 7-10-3. When you add in Rasmus Dahlin being out, their playmaker from the blue line with 22 assists, the Sabres really have to dig deep. It’s a difficult situation, but sometimes the charm lies in the unpredictability. You never know who might step up to defy expectations when the chips are down.

Considering both sides, the Capitals appear to have the edge in this matchup, given their depth and performance up to now this season. With Buffalo facing challenges in their roster, and the Capitals already having a leg up in the season series, it's easy to see why Washington might be the favorites here. Sure, anything can happen in sports, and that’s part of what makes it exciting. But, if you’re looking for a safe bet here, you’d probably have your money riding on the Capitals cruising to a victory at KeyBank Center. What do you think — do the Sabres have some surprise magic up their sleeves?

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Washington Capitals

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