Will Heading Out On The Road Help The Sabres End Their Losing Skid?
12/14/24 – 7:00 pm EST at Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Record
Buffalo – 11-14-4 | 26 points – 7th place in the Atlantic Division
Washington – 20-6-2 | 42 points – 1st place in the Metropolitan Division
Special Teams
Buffalo
Power Play – 14.1% (30th)
Penalty Kill – 80.7% (T-13th)
Washington
Power Play – 20.9% (17th)
Penalty Kill – 83.5% (4th)
Top Scorers
Buffalo
Alex Tuch: 29 GP, 8 G, 16 A, 24 PTS
Tage Thompson: 24 GP, 16 G, 7 A, 23 PTS
Jason Zucker: 29 GP, 7 G, 13 A, 20 PTS
Washington
Dylan Strome: 28 GP, 9 G, 27 A, 36 PTS
Connor McMichael: 28 GP, 15 G, 11 A, 26 PTS
Aliaksei Protas: 28 GP, 11 G, 15 A, 26 PTS
Capitals netminder Logan Thompson's approach to goaltending is a bit laid-back, and also a little bit out there: he doesn't like to think, but just do.
Here's more on his simple philosophy in net & how it's helping him thrive with the #ALLCAPS:https://t.co/5uad82kZCE— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) December 13, 2024
Starting Goalies
Buffalo – Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (8-8-3, 2.79 GAA, .903 save %)
Washington – Logan Thompson (11-1-2, 2.48 GAA, .913 save %)
Line Combinations and Pairings
Buffalo
Forwards
JJ Peterka – Tage Thompson - Alex Tuch
Zach Benson - Jiri Kulich - Dylan Cozens
Jack Quinn - Ryan McLeod - Jason Zucker
Beck Malenstyn - Peyton Krebs - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Ex. Sam Lafferty
Defense
Ryan Johnson - Bowen Byram
Mattias Samuelsson - Owen Power
Jacob Bryson - Henri Jokiharju
Ex. Dennis Gilbert - Connor Clifton
Goaltenders
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
James Reimer
Injuries
Rasmus Dahlin (day-to-day – back spasms)
Jordan Greenway (day-to-day – mid-body)
Notes
The Sabres have earned at least one point in eight consecutive games against the Capitals (4-0-4). Their current point streak against Washington is their longest since they earned at least one point in 22 straight games against the Capitals from Nov. 11, 1978, to Nov. 16, 1984 (18-0-4).
Buffalo possesses an all-time points percentage against Washington of .606, the second-highest among all active teams the Sabres have faced in franchise history (San Jose; .700).
Owen Power is riding a three-game point streak (1+3). Power would match the second-longest point streak of his career with a point in tonight’s game.
Peyton Krebs has recorded three assists in his last two games, including at least one in each of those games. A point in tonight’s game would give Krebs the longest point streak of his career.
Jason Zucker has registered six points (2+4) in his last five games.
Tage Thompson has tallied five goals in his last five games. In his last six games against the Capitals, Thompson has registered 10 points (5+5), including at least one point in back-to-back games against Washington (1+3).
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