This Sunday afternoon’s NHL matchup will feature 36 skaters, but all eyes will be on one man—the Great 8, Alexander Ovechkin. With the gap quickly closing on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record, Ovechkin now sits just six goals away from surpassing the Great One with 889 career regular-season goals.
On paper, this appears to be a one-sided matchup that will allow Ovechkin to pepper the Sabres goalie for the majority of the game. These two teams sit at opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings, with the Capitals having secured 37 more points than Buffalo at this stage of the season. While the Sabres’ season will be over in two weeks, Washington has legitimate aspirations of making a deep playoff run in June. The Capitals are on the verge of clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference and can move one step closer with a win over Buffalo.
Six goals to go for Ovechkin. Ten games remaining. The clock is ticking, so let’s dive into the NHL predictions for this matchup.
Matchup: Sabres vs Capitals Overview
- Teams: Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals
- Date: Sunday, March 30th, 2025
- Time: Puck drop is at 3:00 PM EST
- Venue: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Win Probabilities:
The NHL win probabilities give the Capitals a staggering 84.22% chance to win this game. It’s rare to see such a lopsided probability, but with Buffalo anchored at the bottom of the standings and Washington perched at the top, the gap is undeniable.
The Sabres will have a tough time containing Ovechkin and the Capitals’ high-powered offense, but a few lucky bounces could tilt the momentum in their favor. Even so, the odds are firmly stacked against them, with just a 15.78% chance of pulling off an upset.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score has been generated for the Sabres vs. Capitals matchup. Using expert NHL predictions in combination with insights from recent NHL games, the projected final score is: Washington Capitals 5-1 Buffalo Sabres.
Sabres vs Capitals Odds
The NHL odds for the Sabres vs. Capitals matchup have the Washington Capitals as firm favorites to prevail. They have the best record in the NHL, while also having the added benefit of playing on home ice against the last-place team in the Atlantic Division.
Buffalo has a promising young core, but oddsmakers aren’t giving them much of a chance. With Ovechkin chasing history and the Capitals closing in on the top seed, all signs point to a dominant Washington victory.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Buffalo Sabres Could Win
The Sabres are bringing a three-game win streak into this matchup and will be ready for a fun late-season challenge against one of the league’s top teams. Buffalo will not be making the playoffs this season but will still have this game circled as one they want to win.
Rasmus Dahlin has been excellent on defense, while Tage Thompson’s team-leading 36 goals have been a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating season. The Sabres are positioning themselves well for the future, but they’ll have their hands full against the Capitals in this Sunday afternoon showdown.
To have any chance of pulling off the upset, they’ll need a standout performance from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in goal. His .888 save percentage has been a major factor in Buffalo’s struggles this season, and he’ll need to elevate his game against Washington’s relentless attack.
Why the Washington Capitals Could Win
The Washington Capitals have already defied any expectations heading into the season and could cap off one of the greatest regular seasons of all time with a strong finish to the year. Alexander Ovechkin is five goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky and six goals away from breaking the NHL’s all-time goal record. At one point, it looked like history would have to wait after Ovechkin suffered a midseason leg injury, but his rapid recovery and relentless scoring surge at age 39 have been nothing short of incredible.
Ovechkin has long been the greatest goal scorer of his generation, but his production this season is almost unbelievable. He ranks fourth in the NHL with 36 goals—despite playing fewer games than anyone inside the top 65.
While all eyes are on the Great 8, the Capitals are winning games for more than just his heroics. Logan Thompson has emerged from nowhere with a Vezina-worthy season, though Connor Hellebuyck’s historic campaign may keep him from claiming the trophy. Thompson has given Washington the kind of stability in net they’ve been searching for, backed by a strong defensive core that has helped them get over the line in close games.
Beyond goaltending, Washington’s depth is proving just as crucial. Six Capitals players have recorded 50+ points this season, and the team has won seven of its last 10 games. With momentum on their side and Ovechkin chasing history, Washington is poised for another statement performance on home ice this Sunday.
How to Make Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals Picks
You can debate who takes home the win and whether Alexander Ovechkin will find the back of the net, but there’s no debate about where to make your NHL picks for this matchup.
The best place to make free NHL picks and predictions for Sabres vs. Capitals is Sportzino. Sportzino has odds for every game this season, along with a variety of player props, making it the go-to destination for all your sports predictions.
Not only can you make picks for this game, but you can also wager on whether Ovechkin will break the NHL goal record this season.
