Free NHL Picks Today: Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals 2/26/23

The Washington Capitals (29-26-6) travel to take on the Buffalo Sabres (30-23-4) at KeyBank Center on Sunday. Washington is embarking on a four-game road trip with the second of a back-to-back after earning a high-scoring 6-3 win over the Rangers yesterday, snapping a six-game losing streak. The Capitals committed seven penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.

Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie both scored twice for the Capitals. Darcy Kuemper allowed three goals on 26 shots against (.884%) in the win.Buffalo beat the Panthers 3-1 on Friday.

Jeff Skinner scored twice to lead the Sabres. Tage Thompson had three assists to lead the team in scoring. Craig Anderson was impressive in the win, making 49 saves (.980%).

HEAD TO HEAD

The Sabres won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-4 (OT) victory in January. Thompson led Buffalo with four points (3G 1A). Alex Ovechkin (2G 0A) and Sonny Milano (1G 1A) each had two points to lead Washington. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got the win despite allowing four goals on 32 shots (.875%).

FACING OFF

Washington is averaging 3.00 goals per game for the season, 21st in the NHL, and they are taking on a Sabres team that is allowing 3.47 goals a game (23rd).

Meanwhile, Buffalo has found the net 3.72 times a game on average, third in the league, and the Capitals are allowing opponents to score 2.92 goals per game (12th).

The Sabres’ 25.39% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Capitals rank 17th with a conversion rate of 20.97%. While efficient on the power play, Buffalo has been less impressive at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s fourth-lowest PK% at 73.05%. Washington’s 81.82% ranks ninth in the NHL.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 56 points this season, Ovechkin is the top skater for the Capitals. He has 32 goals and 24 assists in 56 games. In the net, Charlie Lindgren (12-8-2) is Washington’s top goaltender. He has a 2.71 GAA and a .906% save percentage.

Thompson leads the Sabres in scoring with 78 points (7th in the league). He has 39 goals (3rd in the league) and 39 assists in 57 games. Anderson (8-7-2) has the best goals against average for Buffalo at 2.79. He has a save percentage of .915%.

Luukkonen (14-8-2) has played the most games in net for the Sabres this season. He has a 3.55 GAA and a .893% save percentage.

HOME AND AWAY

Washington is 14-13-3 away from home this season. Buffalo has lost three straight at KeyBank Center this season. Meanwhile, the Capitals are 1-6 without a day off and 0-3 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Sabres are 6-3 with a rest advantage.