Sabres vs. Capitals: Projected Lines, Betting Odds, How to Watch & More 4/11/24

The Buffalo Sabres [37-37-5] will host the Washington Capitals [37-30-11] in their final home game of the season. It’s fan appreciation night in the building, but it will be a bitter one as the Sabres will not qualify for the playoffs for a record thirteenth straight season.

Must Read: Thirteen Years of No Playoffs

How to Watch

Gametime: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, NY)

TV: MSG (Buffalo); MNMT (Washington)

Stream: MSG+

Radio: WGR550

The Sabres

If the fans have anything to celebrate on fan appreciation night it’s the way that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has stepped up this season. He will be the starter against the Capitals as he looks to continue to provide consistency for the Sabres in net.

Per Evolving-Hockey, Luukkonen’s 20.45 goals saved above expected this season have him tied for seventh in the NHL. 99.9% of that number has come since the turn of the new year, ranking him third in the league in 2024.

Of course, the looming premise is that the Sabres will not make the postseason again. Thirteen years of no playoff hockey has a differing impact on fans, but we all know the great hockey city Buffalo is. The disappointment is that the team hasn’t allowed the fans to showcase that for thirteen seasons.

13 seasons without NHL playoffs in Buffalo.

All ages. Different experiences. Stuck in a drought.

I put it in song. Won't you give it a listen? 🎵 pic.twitter.com/4Kg3vnyXm3

— Jason Moser 🏒 (@PuckLuckJay) April 10, 2024

The Capitals

There’s still a spoiler role the Sabres can play on Thursday, as the Capitals are holding a one-point lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings for the final Wild Card spot.

Credit is due to one of the greatest goal-scorers in NHL history, Alex Ovechkin. He’s now scored at least 30 goals in a record-setting 18 seasons. He sits 42 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for the all-time lead, meaning, at this pace, he’s two seasons away from setting even more history.

Injury Report

Buffalo

• Bowen Byram (Personal) Out
• Mattias Samuelsson (Upper Body) Out For Season [IR]

Washington

• Rasmus Sandin (Upper Body) Out
• Ethan Bear (Personal) Out [IR]
• Nicklas Backstrom (Hip) Out For Season [IR]

Projected Lines

Buffalo Sabres

JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Zach Benson – Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn

Jeff Skinner – Peyton Krebs – Jordan Greenway

Zemgus Girgensons – Tyson Jost – Lukas Rousek

Owen Power – Rasmus Dahlin

Kale Clague – Henri Jokiharju

Jacob Bryson – Connor Clifton

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Confirmed)

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin – Connor McMichael – T.J. Oshie

Aliaksai Protas – Dylan Strome – Tom Wilson

Max Pacioretty – Hendrix Lapierre – Sonny Milano

Beck Malenstyn – Nic Dowd – Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Martin Fehervary – John Carlson

Alex Alexeyev – Nick Jensen

Trevor van Riemsdyk – Lucas Johansen

Charlie Lindgren (Confirmed)

Lineup Source: Projected

Goalie Source: Bailey Johnson, The Washington Post

Betting Breakdown

It took until the last game of the season, but we do not have a betting edge on the moneyline, puckline, and game total tonight.

The Sabres are favored over the Capitals by both the PuckLuck model and the sportsbook consensus. The sportsbooks also set the goal total at six, which is only 0.03 less than the model.

So instead, let’s drop a prop in here. Dylan Strome’s play has picked up as of late, and he’s a key member of Washington’s powerplay. He’s listed on DraftKings Sportsbook at +260 to record a powerplay point, so if you can find something around there that’s your value bet.

PuckLuck lists a Strome powerplay point at +146, meaning about a 41% chance of happening.

For more betting analysis across the NHL, head over to PuckLuck.com.

*PuckLuck.com provides data related to gambling and cannot guarantee the success of any suggested or related wagers. Please gamble responsibly.*