7:07 pm
November 8

Sabres @ Capitals

Who will WIN this matchup?

Buffalo Sabres (5-4-2)

@ Washington Capitals (5-2-4)

 

Starting Goalies:

Dustin Tokarski (BUF): Unconfirmed

Vitek Vanecek (WAS): Likely

 

Current odds:

Buffalo Sabres: (+210)

Washington Capitals: (-250)

 

• After solid starts to the season in October, November has been a different story so far for the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals. Both will try to get back on track when the teams meet in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

• The Sabres lost their fourth straight on Saturday, falling in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings after holding a two-goal lead in the third period. It was the third time in the past five games in which Buffalo has held a multi-goal lead, only to have it erased. They are 1-1-1 in those games.

• Asplund has been one of the Sabres’ most consistent players thus far, entrusted by coach Don Granato in all situations while averaging 17:36 of ice time through 11 games — second among the team’s forwards after Tage Thompson. He’s made those minutes count, leading the team in scoring with 10 points.

• Sabres winger Victor Olofsson will miss his fourth straight game with an undisclosed injury. Goalie Craig Anderson, who spent last season with Washington, didn’t play Saturday with an upper-body injury and is considered day to day.

• The Capitals dropped their third straight, falling 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. “We seemed sleepy in the first and outworked in the second (on Saturday),” Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. “So the third I thought we had some game going on and we were pushing trying to get a win. But it’s difficult to try and win hockey games relying on coming from behind by two goals in the third period to have to win a game. We need to be better earlier.”

• Washington has struggled on the power play of late, converting on just two of 15 opportunities with the man advantage over the past four games.

• Alex Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet Saturday and remains one goal behind Brett Hull (741) for fourth place in NHL history.

• Washington is 1-2-2 in its past five games.

• It’s the first meeting of the season between the two clubs.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Washington Capitals
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