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Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres March 30th 2025
The Sabres and Capitals are set to face off at 3:00 ET on ESPN+. The Capitals will host the game at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. The over/under for this game is set at 6.5 goals, and the Capitals are the -1.5 goal favorites against the Sabres in a Eastern conference matchup.
Buffalo vs. Washington Key Information
- Teams: Sabres at Capitals
- Where: Capital One Arena Washington
- Date: Sunday, March 30th
- Betting Odds WAS -292 | BUF +240 O/U 6.5
The Sabres Can Win If…
Buffalo’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings dropped their record to 30-36-6. The Sabres were underdogs on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 3.
Buffalo took the lead with a short-handed goal in the first period, but the Red Wings responded with two power-play goals in the second. Alex Tuch scored the Sabres’ lone goal at 11:39 in the first period.
Buffalo’s offense struggled in their 2-1 loss to Detroit, with Alex Tuch scoring the only goal, his fifth of the season. Tuch’s goal came shorthanded at 8:21 in the first period.
The Sabres fired 32 shots on goal but were held scoreless after the first period. They recorded 13 giveaways in the game.
Buffalo’s defense was solid in the first and third periods, but they gave up two crucial goals in the second, both on the power play. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage. The Sabres’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 17 hits.
- The Sabres have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
- Over their last ten regular season games, the Sabres have gone 6-4 straight up. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.
Stay updated with NHL Scores and Odds as Washington looks to snap their skid.
The Capitals Can Win If…
Washington fell to 47-16-9 after a 4-2 road loss to the Hurricanes. The Capitals were underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.
After trailing 1-0, Washington scored twice in the first period to take the lead. However, the Hurricanes responded with three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter, to secure the win.
Washington’s offense was held to 2 goals in their 4-2 loss to Carolina, both coming in the first period. Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season, while Brandon Duhaime added his 2nd. The Capitals managed 21 shots on goal and scored one of their goals on a power play.
Washington recorded 15 giveaways, and Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season. Dylan Strome added his 13th assist, and John Carlson contributed his 7th assist on Ovechkin’s power-play goal.
Washington’s defense gave up the first goal just 5:59 into the first period, and after taking a 2-1 lead, they allowed three unanswered goals—two in the second period and an empty-netter with 9 seconds left in the third. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the defense recorded only 2 takeaways and 20 hits.
- Across Washington’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Across this span, their puck line record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
- The Capitals have gone 7-3 over their last ten regular season games. In these contests, the team went just 7-3 against the spread, while going 4-4-2 on the over-under.
The Lean
For a moneyline pick, I’m taking the Sabres to pick up on a win over the Capitals and the road. With the moneyline sitting at +240, I’ll be locking in a bet on the Sabres straight-up.
If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Sabres winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Sabres straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.
When considering the over/under line, which is currently at 6.5 goals, we believe that this game will go over that threshold, and we recommend wagering on the over.
Ice-Cold Profits Await
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Capitals aim to halt modest slide in clash vs. Sabres
The Washington Capitals are eager to reclaim their winning groove after a brief stumble, hosting the Buffalo Sabres in a crucial Sunday afternoon showdown. Coming off back-to-back losses, the Capitals look to reset and reload as the regular season nears its final stretch.
Washington seeks response after slipping from NHL’s top spot
The Capitals (47-16-9, 103 points) were flying high after a dominant run of nine wins in 10 games, but recent setbacks against the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild have slowed their momentum. A 3-2 overtime loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday was followed by a 4-2 defeat to Minnesota on Thursday, pushing Washington slightly off the league’s top perch.
Now second behind Winnipeg in the overall standings, Washington has a game in hand and will look to capitalize on that Sunday with a return to form on home ice.
Power play problems draw attention
Despite their success overall, the Capitals’ power play has gone ice cold. Washington ranks 17th in the league on the man advantage (21.5 percent) but hasn’t scored a power-play goal since March 5. The drought now stands at 0-for-18 over the past 10 games.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,” head coach Spencer Carbery said. “Finishing is one of the parts, for sure, but it’s all about the process — creating those looks, winning entries, building second chances. That’s where the focus has to be.”
In a bid to spark the struggling unit, Carbery shuffled the second power-play group at Saturday’s practice, moving Alex Ovechkin onto both units. Ovechkin remains a looming threat as he continues his historic pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. The 38-year-old superstar is just six goals away from passing the Great One’s mark of 894.
Sabres eye a bounce-back after defensive collapse
Buffalo (30-36-6, 66 points) heads to the nation’s capital hoping to recover from a wild 7-4 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday, a game in which the Sabres unraveled despite briefly rallying from a two-goal deficit.
The Sabres had won three straight before that loss but gave up seven goals, including three in the first period and one just 29 seconds after scoring a short-handed tally in the third.
“Totally disrespected the game,” said head coach Lindy Ruff. “We handed out gifts for the first three goals. You won’t win on the road playing like that. It was Christmas hockey. No discipline, no puck management.”
For more team trends and upcoming matchups, visit NHL Team Pages.
Jack Quinn heating up after cold stretch
One bright spot in Buffalo’s recent stretch has been winger Jack Quinn, who’s started to rediscover his scoring touch. The 23-year-old netted two goals and added an assist on Saturday, extending his point streak to three games. It’s a notable bounce-back after going goalless since Feb. 22 and posting just three assists in his previous 11 outings.
Quinn credits his recent chemistry with Ryan McLeod and JJ Peterka as a key to his resurgence.
“I think the confidence is what’s been missing at times for me this year,” Quinn said. “You can kind of see it coming now, and it’s translating into some production. I just want to keep building on it.”
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What’s at stake
Washington will be playing with urgency, not just to reclaim first place in the standings but to recalibrate its special teams heading into the postseason. For Buffalo, it’s a chance to test young talent and close the season strong, even as the playoffs remain out of reach.
Catch more NHL coverage, predictions, and playoff race updates from the NHL Picks page and NHL Division Futures.
