Schedule / Matchup Preview

Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Capitals · THU · MAR 18 · 6:30 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
THU · MAR 18 · 6:30 PM CT
KeyBank Center
ESPN+ · HULU · Disney+
Buffalo Sabres
Sabres
1–1–0
VS
Washington Capitals
Capitals
1–1–0
Upcoming
THU · MAR 18 · 6:30 PM CT
ESPN+ · HULU · Disney+
Buffalo Sabres
Home · Sabres
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Tom Wilson has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 6 goals on 14 shots. But the Sabres have found Logan Thompson beatable: .854 on 178 shots.
KeyBank Center
Washington Capitals
Away · Capitals
1–1–0
2 PTS
Sabres
GOALIES
Capitals
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Expected
.784 SV% · 4.03 GAA · 1W
.847 SV% L5 · Cooling
VS
Logan Thompson
Logan Thompson
Expected
.939 SV% · 2.00 GAA · 1W
.923 SV% L5 · Locked in
Sabres
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Capitals
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
SabresProjected lines
L1
Josh Norris · Tage Thompson · Josh Doan
L2
Zach Benson · Noah Ostlund · Jack Quinn
L3
Peyton Krebs · Ryan McLeod · Konsta Helenius
L4
Jiri Kulich · Sam Carrick · Beck Malenstyn
D1
Rasmus Dahlin · Mattias Samuelsson
D2
Owen Power · Olen Zellweger
D3
Louis Crevier · Zach Metsa
PP1
Jack Quinn · Zach Benson · Josh Doan · Tage Thompson · Rasmus Dahlin
PP2
Konsta Helenius · Ryan McLeod · Noah Ostlund · Owen Power · Josh Norris
PK1
Ryan McLeod · Beck Malenstyn · Owen Power · Mattias Samuelsson
PK2
Josh Norris · Zach Benson · Rasmus Dahlin · Louis Crevier
CapitalsProjected lines
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
Sabres
INJURY REPORT
Capitals
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
SabresInjury report
Alex Lyon
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 6
Conor Timmins
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 17
Topias Leinonen
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 10
Jack Rathbone
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 24
Jason Zucker
IR · Abdomen (surgery) · Expected back Oct 15
CapitalsInjury report
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:06 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Sabres won their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Capitals lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Tom Wilson has solved Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen before, 6 goals on 14 shots. But the Sabres have found Logan Thompson beatable: .854 on 178 shots.

The problem is Alex Tuch, who has 5 points in his last 4 against the Sabres.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Tom Wilson has 6 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (14 shots).
(Washington)
6 goals on Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Goaltending
Logan Thompson has struggled against Buffalo — a .854 save % on 178 shots.
.854 SV% vs BUF
Matchup
Tage Thompson has 4 goals on Logan Thompson (27 shots).
(Buffalo)
4 goals on Logan Thompson
Player
Alex Tuch has 5 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Washington)
5 pts, last 4 vs BUF
Player
Alex Ovechkin has 5 points in his last 4 games against Buffalo. See the games →
(Washington)
5 pts, last 4 vs BUF