Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals Prediction, 1/3/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Buffalo Sabres vs Washington Capitals

Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

TV: NBC Sports Washington

Odds/Point Spread: Sabres (+140) Capitals (-170)

Capital One Arena is the site where the Washington Capitals (21-13-5) will attempt to defeat the Buffalo Sabres (18-15-2) on Tuesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Sabres at +140 and the Capitals are priced at -170. The total has been set at 7.

The Buffalo Sabres will look to clean up some issues after taking a 3-1 defeat against the Senators in the last game they played. The Sabres didn't have their best offensive outing in the defeat. While out there on the ice, they tallied a score on 1 of the 34 shots they put on net. They also had 3 power play attempts but weren't able to score a goal. Buffalo tallied 2 penalty minutes in this matchup.

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Buffalo Sabres opponents have 118 power play tries (16th in the NHL) and have notched 32 goals in those chances. The Sabres so far have had 1,156 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .898. Buffalo has taken 1,122 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.2%. At even strength, the Sabres have conceded 86 goals while having 100 when they are on offense. Buffalo comes into tonight with 132 power play chances and they have scored 37 goals during those advantages, giving them a percentage of 28.03%. For the year, they have accumulated 38 points and their points percentage comes in at .543. In the matter of scoring goals, the Buffalo Sabres have racked up 137 goals (2nd in hockey) so far this season and have surrendered 118.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Craig Anderson. The opposition has been able to score 1,875 goals against Anderson in his NHL career and his goals against average per game is 2.85. Anderson has taken the ice for 697 matchups during his NHL career. His save percentage is at .912 in his 39,543 mins in the crease. He has an overall record of 315-269-72 and he has started in 610 games. In his career, Anderson has accrued 326 quality starts and his rate for quality starts is .534. Anderson has had 21,396 shots against him and has gathered 19,521 saves.

In their last game, Washington squared up with the Canadiens in an outing where the Capitals got the win by a final score of 9-2. The Capitals recorded 9 goals of the 40 shots on goal they pursued. They had 4 opportunities on the power play in this outing and scored 2 out of those opportunities.

Over the course of the season, the Washington Capitals have 127 goals, 47 points, as well as a points percentage of .603. They have allowed 106 goals to be scored by way of 85 goals at even strength and 21 goals while they were shorthanded. The Capitals have tallied 99 goals at even strength and 28 goals (12th in hockey) while on the power play. They have recorded 128 power play chances and they have earned a power play rate of 21.88%. Washington has taken 1,231 shots (9th in the league) and has accumulated a shooting percentage of 10.32%, while allowing the opposition 1,193 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 81.25% on their opponents 112 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.1%.

Across the ice you are expected to see Darcy Kuemper between the pipes. He has a tally of 8,404 stops out of the 9,156 shots attempted against him, which gives him a save % of .918. Kuemper has a career record of 153-104-39 and has participated in 322 games. He has started in 305 contests and has been on the ice for 18,168 mins. Kuemper's rate of quality starts sits at 56.7% and he has accumulated 173 quality starting assignments in his pro hockey career. His opposition is averaging 2.48 goals per game and he has allowed 752 goals in total.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take Buffalo (+140)

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