Opinion
3 min read

Can the Washington Capitals Overcome the Buffalo Sabres in Upcoming Fray?

The Washington Capitals are gearing up for another intense matchup, this time against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. The Capitals have been showing a mixed bag of performances lately, but there's reason to believe they could turn the tide in their favor in this upcoming game.


Nov 22, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In their last encounter with the Boston Bruins on March 31st, WSH demonstrated resilience and a knack for powerplay opportunities. Despite falling short in a shootout with a final score of 2-3, they exhibited strong defensive plays, blocking 19 shots and winning over half of their faceoffs. Their goaltending was also noteworthy; saving all but two of 29 shots is no small feat.


However, it wasn't all smooth skating for WSH. The team gave away possession 13 times and had a minus-five plus-minus rating overall – an area that will need tightening up if they want to secure victory against BUF. Moreover, while their powerplay strength shone through with one goal from seven shots, capitalizing on these chances will be crucial to overpowering BUF's defense.


Nov 22, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with Washington Capitals right wing Anthony Mantha (39) after scoring the game-tying goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the final minutes of the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

On March 28th against the Toronto Maple Leafs, WSH faced a tough loss with only one point scored compared to Toronto's five. This game highlighted some weaknesses: WSH struggled significantly in faceoff win percentage (36 percent) and had an alarming minus-twenty plus-minus rating. These statistics suggest that there is room for improvement when it comes to puck control and maintaining offensive pressure.


Despite these setbacks, there is optimism rooted in WSH’s performance against Detroit Red Wings on March 26th where they emerged victorious with four points to three after overtime. They showcased an impressive shooting percentage (13 percent) and were able to capitalize during even-strength play by netting three goals out of twenty-six shots.


Nov 22, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres in the second period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead at BUF’s recent form provides further hope for WSH fans; while specifics about BUF’s recent games aren’t available here, historical matchups have often been closely contested affairs between these two teams.


As we approach game day on April 11th at KeyBank Center in Buffalo – which promises another chapter in this competitive narrative – fans should keep an eye out for how well WSH can maintain possession and exploit powerplay situations which seem pivotal for success based on past performances.


Capitals supporters can catch all the action live at 7:00 PM ET via ESPN+ online or tune into MSG-B or MNMT television networks.

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