Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, 1/6/2025 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres

Date: Monday, January 6, 2025

Location: KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY

TV: MSG Network

Odds/Point Spread: Capitals (-152) Sabres (+126)

The Washington Capitals (25-10-3) are en route to KeyBank Center on Monday where they will meet the Buffalo Sabres (14-20-5). The moneyline on this matchup has Washington at -152 while Buffalo is priced at +126. The over/under has been set at 6.

The Washington Capitals had a decent effort after finishing in a 3-3 tie against the Wild in the last game they played. Washington recorded 4 penalty mins in this game. Furthermore, they had 3 opportunities with more players on the ice and were able to net 1 goal. The Capitals were neither impressive or disappointing offensively in this game. While out there on the ice, they earned a goal on 3 of the 31 shots they attempted.

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Washington Capitals opponents have earned 116 power play tries (10th in pro hockey) and have notched 19 goals in those attempts. The Capitals so far have had 1,044 shots attempted against them and are the owners of a save percentage of .905. Washington has tried 1,070 shots and is the owner of a shot percentage of 12.9%. While playing at even strength, the Capitals have surrendered 80 goals while scoring 113 of their own. Washington has 111 power play opportunities and they have scored 25 goals out of those advantages, garnering them a rate of 22.52%. For the current season, they have recorded 53 points and their points percentage comes in at .697. In regard to their scoring capabilities, the Washington Capitals have racked up 138 goals (2nd in hockey) on the season and have surrendered 99.

The man protecting the net in this game is Logan Thompson. For his professional hockey career, Thompson has earned 68 quality starts and his quality starts rate sits at .596. He has a save percentage of .913 in his 5,970 minutes played. Thompson has had 3,539 shots taken against him and has amassed 3,231 total saves. The opposition has notched 308 goals against Thompson in his professional career and his goals against average per contest is 3.10. He has amassed an overall mark of 71-34-13 and he has started in 114 games. Thompson has been in net for 122 matchups over the course of his hockey career.

Their last time out, Buffalo faced off against the Avalanche in a matchup where the Sabres ended up taking the loss by a score of 6-5. They had 3 power play attempts in this one and notched 2 out of those opportunities. The Sabres scored 5 goals of the 21 shots on goal they attempted.

Buffalo has taken 1,055 shots (22nd in hockey) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 11.37%, while allowing the other team 1,132 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 77.87% on their opponents 122 power play chances, and their save percentage sits at 88.3%. They have earned 109 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play rate of 17.43%. The Sabres have earned 101 goals at even strength and 19 goals (25th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have allowed 133 goals to be scored by of a combination of 106 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they had less men on the ice. So far this year, the Buffalo Sabres have accounted for 120 goals, 33 points, and a points percentage of .423.

On the other side of the ice you will find Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal. Luukkonen has earned a lifetime record of 58-53-14 and has been in goal for 128 games. Luukkonen's quality start rate comes out to 55.6% and he has made 69 quality starts in his pro career. He has accounted for 3,358 saves out of the 3,724 shots tried, which gives him a save percentage of .902. His opposition is averaging 3.80 goals/game and he has yielded 366 goals overall. He has started in 124 contests and has played for a total of 5,778 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+126)

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