Previewing Monday’s Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.
The Washington Capitals (41-20-7) visit the Buffalo Sabres (29-31-8) Monday at KeyBank Center for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Capitals-Sabres sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Capitals at Sabres: Projected starting goalies
Braden Holtby vs. Carter Hutton
Holtby has won four of his last five starts and last stopped 26 of 28 shots in a key road win over the rival Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday. The veteran is 25-14-5 on the season with a .897 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average.
Hutton has dropped his last four starts after what seemed to be a late-season resurgence. He allowed three goals in each outing and faced 30 or more shots in just two of the four games. He has a .898 SV% and 3.18 GAA for the season.
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Capitals at Sabres: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list.
Odds last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Capitals 5, Sabres 2
The Sabres (+145) have lost six in a row and aren’t worthy of a wager while heading quickly toward postseason elimination. The CAPITALS (-175) remain atop the Metropolitan Division and are getting more profitable odds than they should in this matchup. Washington is 23-10-2 on the road for the season, and while it’s just 4-4-2 across its last 10 games, the Caps beat the Penguins 5-2 last time out.
Buffalo is 19-11-4 at home in 2019-20 but now just 3-7 across its last 10 games. The Sabres fell 3-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers for their fifth straight loss by multiple goals. Back the Capitals to win outright as a safe play, but there’s better value to be had on the puck line.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Capitals to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $5.70.
Double down on the CAPITALS (-1.5, +150) and back them to win by at least 2 goals at plus-money. Washington is just 33-35 ATS overall but 22-13 on the road. Buffalo is 36-32 ATS overall but just 17-17 on home ice.
As noted above, the Sabres have dropped five straight by multiple goals and six straight overall. The Capitals also claimed a 6-1 victory in the season’s first head-to-head meeting, Nov. 1.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the OVER 6.5 (+120) as a value play. The Caps are 7-3 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games. The Sabres are 4-4-2 against the O/U over the same span, but the season’s first meeting topped Monday’s projection. Washington will add to Hutton’s recent troubles, while Buffalo will need just a couple goals to help push this one Over the number.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 275-254
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