Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction, Picks & Odds | 01 Nov 2025

NHL Betting Preview: Capitals vs Sabres

The Washington Capitals face the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, with face-off scheduled for 19:00 on Saturday, November 1. Our betting preview features expert NHL predictions, betting tips, the latest odds, H2H stats, player stats, team news and the starting lineups.

Bet Against Goals

We’re expecting the Capitals and the Sabres to score a modest number of goals and that leads us to an Under 6.5 prediction. Let’s grab the -132 that this outcome happens.

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Sabres 8-5 Winners in Most Recent H2H

Washington Capitals suffered a third consecutive defeat when losing 3-1 in their previous game. This was at home to New York Islanders at Capital One Arena. Caps racked up 23 shots and Tom Wilson bagged the only goal.

Buffalo Sabres have suffered defeat in their last three games. Most recently, a 4-3 (OT) scoreline occurred on the road at TD Garden against Boston Bruins. Rasmus Dahlin, Alex Tuch and Josh Doan each scored one goal.

Head-to-Head Statistics

The Sabres have won the last two meetings against the Caps. They triumphed 4-3 (SO) at KeyBank Center and then 8-5 at Capital One Arena. The Sabres have triumphed in six of the previous 10 clashes between these teams.

Starting Goalies

Charlie Lindgren (Expected)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	1-2-0	3.8	.882	1
23/24	25-16-7	2.67	.911	6

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Expected)

Season	W-L-OTL:	GAA:	SV%:	SO:
24/25	0-0-1	3.9	.826	0
23/24	27-22-4	2.57	.910	5

6 wins and 4 losses, averaging 2.7 goals from 27.8 shots on goal, with a 17.1% powerplay efficiency. The Caps have been giving up 2.2 goals from 25.8 shots, averaging 3.8 penalties with a penalty-killing efficiency of 79.0%.

Tom Wilson is the top points scorer with 11 points, 5 goals and 6 assists, with Dylan Strome recording 10 points, 2 goals and 8 assists, over the last 10 games. Goalie Logan Thompson have a 1.43 goal against average with a .939 save percentage.

The Sabres have 4 wins, 3 losses and 3 overtime losses, averaging 3.3 goals from 30.5 shots on goal, with a 18.6% powerplay efficiency. They have been conceding 3.1 goals from 31.7 shots, averaging 4.8 penalties per game with a penalty-killing efficiency of 91.7%.

The top points scorer is Alex Tuch with 11 points, 4 goals and 7 assists, while Tage Thompson is next best after having 9 points, 4 goals and 5 assists. Goalie Alex Lyon have a 2.89 GAA with a .912 SV%, including one shutout.

Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres Prediction & Picks

Be fully equipped for Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres with our betting guide, offering a key match prediction, a correct score recommendation, top player prop picks and a bet builder tailored for value.

Game Prediction

There could be a shortage of goals in this NHL encounter. Therefore, going under the line makes lots of appeal, especially at odds of -132.

We’re always on top of team news and when combined with recent form, it helps us uncover the best value. Our NHL handicappers also take a data-led approach, using key stats to back every pick.

Key Capitals vs Sabres stats:

• The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in the last 4 Capitals games on the road.
• The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 8 of the last 10 Capitals games.
• The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 15 of the last 20 Capitals games.
• The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 6 of the last 10 Sabres games at home.
• The 6.5 line hasn’t been covered in 11 of the last 20 Sabres games.

Under 6.5 Probability

Based on the latest odds from the top NHL sportsbooks, our pick carries a 56.8% chance of winning. After careful examination, our cappers calculate this probability to be somewhere between 60-65%. The wager can be recommended for this precise reason.

Bettors in search of a larger potential return on their Total wager can look to go under a different number of goals. This is achieved by moving the line until you’re happy with the odds.

Get the most from your next wager. Check our expert guide filled with the best free bets and top bonus offers.

Best Bet

Under 6.5 Goals @ -132 Watch Live Bet Now

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Player Prop Picks

Top Pick: Tom Wilson To Score +220

Tom Wilson (Capitals) has found the net in 3 of the past 5 games. It’s worth a gamble on the +220 for him to be Anytime Goalscorer as there’s plenty of juice in these betting odds.

Correct Score Prediction

Capitals 2 - 4 Sabres

We’re going for the Sabres at +1600 to secure a 4-2 win. It’s exciting to bet on the correct score and this wager will hopefully be able to land a nice return.

Latest Correct Score Odds

Score

Capitals

Sabres

1-0

Capitals

+5000

Sabres

+5500

2-0

Capitals

+4500

Sabres

+5000

2-1

Capitals

+1400

Sabres

+1400

3-0

Capitals

+3300

Sabres

+3300

3-1

Capitals

+1800

Sabres

+1900

3-2

Capitals

+850

Sabres

+850

4-0

Capitals

+4000

Sabres

+4000

4-1

Capitals

+1600

Sabres

+1600

4-2

Capitals

+1600

Sabres

+1600

4-3

Capitals

+1050

Sabres

+1000

5-0

Capitals

+7500

Sabres

+7000

5-1

Capitals

+2500

Sabres

+2500

5-2

Capitals

+1700

Sabres

+1700

5-3

Capitals

+2400

Sabres

+2200

5-4

Capitals

+2000

Sabres

+2000

6-0

Capitals

+11000

Sabres

+11000

6-1

Capitals

+6000

Sabres

+6000

6-2

Capitals

+3300

Sabres

+3300

6-3

Capitals

+3000

Sabres

+3000

6-4

Capitals

+5000

Sabres

+4500

6-5

Capitals

+5000

Sabres

+5000

7-1

Capitals

+10000

Sabres

+10000

7-2

Capitals

+9000

Sabres

+8000

7-3

Capitals

+6000

Sabres

+6000

7-4

Capitals

+7000

Sabres

+6600

7-5

Capitals

+11000

Sabres

+10000

7-6

Capitals

+12000

Sabres

+12000

8-2

Capitals

+14000

Sabres

+13000

8-3

Capitals

+15000

Sabres

+14000

8-4

Capitals

+12500

Sabres

+12000

8-5

Capitals

+12500

Sabres

+14000

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Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres Odds

The odds and lines are updated on a frequent basis. You might therefore find that they are different to the ones listed for the above betting predictions.

Books Anticipating a Tight Affair

Both teams are priced up at -110, meaning that the sportsbooks are expecting things to be close. The implied probability is that Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals are both equally as likely to win this game according to the latest Moneyline betting odds.

The puck line is 1.5 and the total goals line is 6.5. A wager on Totals allows bettors to use the latest data to good effect. If you want to wager Over 6.5, there are odds of +108.

The good news is that you can access hundreds of team props and game lines for every National Hockey League matchup. The best sportsbooks have a huge range of pre-game and in-game betting options.

Moneyline

Capitals

-110

Sabres

-110

3-Way Moneyline

Capitals

+148

Tie

+320

Sabres

+143

Puck Line

Capitals +1.5

-278

Sabres -1.5

+220

Total Goals

Under 6.5

-132

Over 6.5

+108

Alex Ovechkin Favorite to Score the First Goal

You will find Alex Ovechkin at +950 to be First Goalscorer which makes him the favorite. There’s the chance to get +145 that he finds the net at anytime.

Player Goals

Alex Ovechkin (Capitals)

First

+145

Anytime

+950

Tage Thompson (Sabres)

First

+150

Anytime

+1000

Tom Wilson (Capitals)

First

+195

Anytime

+1300

Josh Doan (Sabres)

First

+230

Anytime

+1500

Alex Tuch (Sabres)

First

+240

Anytime

+1500

Zach Benson (Sabres)

First

+280

Anytime

+1800

Dylan Strome (Capitals)

First

+280

Anytime

+1800

Aliaksei Protas (Capitals)

First

+280

Anytime

+2000

Jason Zucker (Sabres)

First

+300

Anytime

+1900

Ryan Leonard (Capitals)

First

+300

Anytime

+1900

Pierre-Luc Dubois (Capitals)

First

+320

Anytime

+2000

Connor McMichael (Capitals)

First

+340

Anytime

+2000

Jiri Kulich (Sabres)

First

+340

Anytime

+2000

Ryan McLeod (Sabres)

First

+360

Anytime

+2000

Jack Quinn (Sabres)

First

+375

Anytime

+2200

Jakob Chychrun (Capitals)

First

+475

Anytime

+2500

Rasmus Dahlin (Sabres)

First

+500

Anytime

+2500

Hendrix Lapierre (Capitals)

First

+550

Anytime

+2500

Sonny Milano (Capitals)

First

+550

Anytime

+3000

Anthony Beauvillier (Capitals)

First

+600

Anytime

+3000

John Carlson (Capitals)

First

+700

Anytime

+3300

Justin Sourdif (Capitals)

First

+700

Anytime

+3300

Jordan Greenway (Sabres)

First

+750

Anytime

+3500

Peyton Krebs (Sabres)

First

+900

Anytime

+4000

Declan Chisholm (Capitals)

First

+900

Anytime

+4000

Bowen Byram (Sabres)

First

+900

Anytime

+4500

Owen Power (Sabres)

First

+950

Anytime

+4500

Brandon Duhaime (Capitals)

First

+1000

Anytime

+5000

Josh Dunne (Sabres)

First

+1000

Anytime

+5000

Michael Kesselring (Sabres)

First

+1400

Anytime

+6000

Micro Betting

Micro betting is something that’s really popular with bettors, with NHL fans essentially being able to bet in-game when it comes to team and player props. Sometimes these are lines where you can wager on Shots or Goals.

Last 5 & H2H

Latest regular season and playoff games stats.

Washington Capitals Stats

Buffalo Sabres Stats

Moneyline

• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 games
• 5 wins and 5 defeats in the last 10 games on the road

Moneyline

• 4 wins and 6 defeats in the last 10 games
• 6 wins and 4 defeats in the last 10 home games

Puck Line

• +1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 8 of the last 10 games
• +1.5 Betting Line on the Road: Have covered the +1.5 puck line in 6 of the last 10 games on the road

Puck Line

• -1.5 Betting Line: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 4 of the last 10 games
• -1.5 Betting Line at Home: Have covered the -1.5 puck line in 5 of the last 10 home games

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 4.90 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals on the Road: An average of 5.20 goals in the previous 10 games on the road
• Over 6.5: Covered in 2 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 on the Road: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 games on the road
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 2.70 goals and allowed 2.20 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals on the Road: Have scored an average of 2.50 pts and allowed 2.70 goals in the last 10 games on the road

Total Goals

• Game Totals: An average of 6.40 goals in the previous 10 games
• Game Totals at Home: An average of 6.00 goals in the previous 10 home games
• Over 6.5: Covered in 5 of the previous 10 games
• Over 6.5 at Home: Covered in 4 of the previous 10 home games
• Team Totals: Have scored an average of 3.30 goals and allowed 3.10 goals in the last 10 games
• Team Totals at Home: Have scored an average of 3.20 goals and allowed 2.80 goals in the last 10 home games

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.6
• Shots: 27.8
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 3.8
• Empty Net Goals: 0.1
• Penalty Minutes: 7.9
• Blocks: 17.9
• Faceoff Wins : 24.4
• Hits: 22.7
• Giveaways: 17.1
• Takeaways: 4.7

Last 10 Games on the Road

• Goals Powerplay: 0.5
• Shots: 24.9
• Goals Shorthanded: 0
• Penalties: 4
• Empty Net Goals: 0.3
• Penalty Minutes: 9.6
• Blocks: 18.3
• Faceoff Wins : 27.9
• Hits: 25.7
• Giveaways: 14.7
• Takeaways: 3.7

Team Stats - Avg/Game

Last 10 Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.8
• Shots: 30.5
• Goals Shorthanded: 0.2
• Penalties: 4.8
• Empty Net Goals: 0.1
• Penalty Minutes: 11.8
• Blocks: 15.4
• Faceoff Wins : 25.7
• Hits: 19.5
• Giveaways: 14.9
• Takeaways: 4.5

Last 10 Home Games

• Goals Powerplay: 0.6
• Shots: 30.6
• Goals Shorthanded: 0.4
• Penalties: 4.2
• Empty Net Goals: 0.2
• Penalty Minutes: 9.2
• Blocks: 15.5
• Faceoff Wins : 26.6
• Hits: 17.6
• Giveaways: 14.7
• Takeaways: 4.7

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Team News

Washington Capitals Player Stats & Roster

#	Player	GP	MIN	G	A	P	+/-
43	Tom Wilson	11	19.95	6	6	12	3
17	Dylan Strome	9	16.23	2	8	10	5
21	Alexei Protas	11	18.75	4	5	9	4

8	Alexander Ovechkin	11	17.98	2	5	7	1
6	Jakob Chychrun	11	23.1	3	4	7	5
74	John Carlson	11	23.59	2	5	7	-2
9	Ryan Leonard	11	12.87	3	2	5	3
42	Martin Fehervary	11	19.34	1	3	4	1
26	Nic Dowd	11	14.95	1	2	3	0
24	Connor McMichael	11	15.6	1	2	3	-3
29	Hendrix Lapierre	10	10.87	0	2	2	0
72	Anthony Beauvillier	11	13.84	1	1	2	3
38	Rasmus Sandin	7	19.4	0	2	2	3
53	Ethen Frank	3	11.3	0	1	1	0
47	Declan Chisholm	5	14.28	0	1	1	2
34	Justin Sourdif	11	11.78	1	0	1	1
57	Trevor van Riemsdyk	9	14.33	1	0	1	2
22	Brandon Duhaime	11	13	0	1	1	-2
3	Matt Roy	11	19.37	0	1	1	1
80	Pierre-Luc Dubois	6	15.53	0	0	0	0
15	Sonny Milano	5	10.74	0	0	0	0
52	Dylan McIlrath	1	14.1	0	0	0	0

#	Goalies	GP	GAA	SV%
48	Logan Thompson	8	1.51	0.935
79	Charlie Lindgren	3	3.72	0.882

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Buffalo Sabres Player Stats & Roster

#	Player	GP	MIN	G	A	P	+/-
89	Alex Tuch	11	19.07	4	7	11	4
9	Zach Benson	8	19.04	0	8	9	3
26	Rasmus Dahlin	11	24.53	1	8	9	-8

72	Tage Thompson	11	19.16	4	5	9	-5
91	Josh Doan	11	15.11	4	4	8	2
71	Ryan McLeod	11	17.83	3	4	7	0
23	Mattias Samuelsson	9	20.87	2	4	6	3
22	Jack Quinn	11	15.05	3	3	6	-4
20	Jiri Kulich	11	16.83	3	2	5	-4
17	Jason Zucker	11	14.7	4	2	5	-8
4	Bowen Byram	11	22.49	1	4	5	0
25	Owen Power	10	21.69	1	3	4	-5
19	Peyton Krebs	11	12.89	0	3	3	-3
21	Conor Timmins	11	20.35	0	3	3	-3
48	Tyson Kozak	7	9.87	2	0	2	2
78	Jacob Bryson	5	9.46	0	1	1	1
44	Josh Dunne	5	9.4	1	0	1	1
29	Beck Malenstyn	10	11.44	0	1	1	-3
55	Mason Geertsen	4	4.2	0	0	0	-1
15	Justin Danforth	4	11.7	0	0	0	-2
36	Noah Oestlund	4	10.85	0	0	0	0
	Zach Metsa	4	8.83	0	0	0	3
33	Ryan Johnson	3	9	0	0	0	0
8	Michael Kesselring	2	16.4	0	0	0	0
12	Jordan Greenway	1	15.4	0	0	0	-1
13	Josh Norris	1	18.9	0	0	0	0

#	Goalies	GP	GAA	SV%
	Colten Ellis	1	2	0.935
34	Alex Lyon	9	2.9	0.911
1	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	1	3.9	0.818

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Injuries & Suspensions

Starting Lineups

Both teams’ confirmed lineups will be published ahead of face-off. There is also the chance to look at the lineups from the previous 10 games.