The Washington Capitals are in a dogfight to hold onto the second and final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and their next opponent, the Buffalo Sabres, are in a dogfight just to stay in the Wild Card race in general.
For Tuesday, though, Buffalo is a -125 favorite according to the NHL odds as it'll look to pick up two key points.
Is staying alive enough motivation to back Buffalo? Read below as I share my NHL picks for the Capitals vs. Sabres on April 2.
Capitals vs Sabres odds
Capitals vs Sabres predictions
Things are bleak right now for the Buffalo Sabres as they enter play tonight seven points back of the Washington Capitals with seven games to play, and five teams they’d need to leapfrog to get there.
Buffalo just hasn’t been able to string together wins, having dropped five of its last eight. Buffalo can compete when the goals are flowing, but it ranked just 22nd in scoring at 2.95 goals per game. It hasn’t helped that the Sabres' power play has deserted them, now 0-for-18 in the last seven games.
The Sabres have scored at least four goals in six of their last seven wins, however, littered inside those W’s are eight losses where they’ve scored three or fewer in each.
After ripping off six wins in their last seven, the Capitals have dropped two straight, courtesy of a pair of Atlantic Division heavies, losing 5-1 to the Maple Leafs and then a 3-2 shootout loss to the Bruins.
Washington’s offense is even more anemic than Buffalo’s, ranking 27th in the league at 2.70 goals per game, though it’s beeen better of late — upping that to 3.15 across the last 13 games while going 8-4-1.
Buffalo is desperate though, and as this is essentially a must win, I think it finds a way to take get those two points at home. However, Washington has also dominated the Sabres head-to-head, having won two straight and seven of the last 10.
This one has one-goal nail-biter written all over it, so I’m taking the visitors on the puck line.
My best bet: Capitals +1.5 (-213 at PROLINE+)
Capitals vs Sabres same-game parlay
Capitals +1.5
Over 5.5 goals
Tage Thompson anytime goalscorer
These teams generally light the lamp when they play each other, including their only matchup so far this season, a 4-3 Washington win back in November. That made it six straight times the Capitals and Sabres have combined to hit the Over, with the Over going 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Though they were shut out last game, the Sabre to keep an eye out for is Tage Thomspson.
He recorded a 4-goal game against the Devils prior to the Leafs loss, and his five goals over his last four has moved him into a tie for leading goal scorer with JJ Peterka.
Thompson was scoreless against the Caps in the lone meeting this season, but he’s plenty comfortable going against Washington. Last season, Thompson had four goals in three games against the Caps.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Capitals vs Sabres moneyline and Over/Under analysis
- Washington is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games
- Eight of the last nine games between the Capitals vs Sabres games have gone Over
- Buffalo and Washington have gone Over 1.5 goals in the first period in six straight games
Capitals vs Sabres betting trend to know
The Capitals have hit the moneyline in 37 of their last 79 games (+4.85 Units / 5% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canucks vs. Golden Knights.
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Capitals vs Sabres game info
| Location: | KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY |
| Date: | Tuesday, April 2, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Monument, MSG-Buffalo |
Capitals vs Sabres latest injuries
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