[7:00 PM] Capitals @ Sabres

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Capitals (15-7-3)

@ Buffalo Sabres (10-10-6)

 

Starting Goalies:

Philipp Grubauer (WSH): Likely

Robin Lehner (BUF): Confirmed

 

• Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson has decimated the Buffalo Sabres en route to recording six points in his last six games overall. After skewering the Sabres with a goal in the Capitals’ 3-1 win on Nov. 25 and netting the tying tally in the third period and overtime-winner earlier this week, Johansson looks for an encore on Friday in Buffalo in the finale of the teams’ three-game season series. The 26-year-old Swede notched an assist on Wednesday as Washington posted its second straight win with a 4-3 overtime victory over Boston.

• While Washington attempts to get on the same page, Buffalo’s line of Jack Eichel, Evander Kane and Sam Reinhart have been doing quite nicely since Eichel’s return from a 21-game absence due to an ankle injury. The line has combined for seven goals and 14 points in five contests, with Buffalo improving to 3-1-1 in that stretch following Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory over Edmonton.

• Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen will see his consecutive games streak end at 189 on Friday as he will not travel with the team to Buffalo due to an upper-body injury. Niskanen sustained the injury after careening face-first into the boards following a hit from Bruins center Patrice Bergeron in the first period.

• Kane has been providing both highs (three goals) and lows (three penalties) for Buffalo over the last three games, with the infractions proving costly on both Monday and Tuesday. Buffalo yielded power-play goals to change the momentum of both contests, although Kane made amends against the Oilers in overtime with his second goal of the night to give him five points in his last five games after notching just two (both assists) in his previous 10. While Kane’s offensive jolt is nice, Buffalo has permitted a power-play goal in eight of its last 11 games and is second-to-last on the penalty kill at 75.6 percent.

• Buffalo’s Dmitry Kulikov is expected to return Friday following a 13-game absence with a back injury while fellow D Josh Gorges has a chance to play despite dealing with a non-displaced fracture in his foot.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Washington Capitals

Confidence: 5/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick