NHL Game Preview: Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres with Line Combinations 1/6/2025

Washington Capitals (26-10-3, 55 Pts) at Buffalo Sabres (14-21-5, 33 Pts) 

Venue: KeyBank Center
Date: Monday, January 6
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/MSG-B/MNMT
Radio:
Washington – Caps Radio 24/7
Buffalo – 550 WGR Sports Radio

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Washington -1.5 ML -142
Buffalo +1.5 ML +120
O/U 6.5

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Washington Capitals News & Notes:

The Capitals are coming in off a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday. They are now 3-1-1 in their last five and are averaging four goals per game while allowing an average of three goals per game. They hold the Metro Division lead.

Buffalo Sabres News & Notes:

The Sabres dropped their third straight game on Saturday. They’ve been outscored 13-8 in that stretch. They are 2-2-1 in their last five games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division.

Washington Capitals Projected Lines

Ovechkin-Strome-Raddysh
Protas-Dubois-Wilson
Eller-McMichael-Vrana
Duhaime-Dowd-Mangiapane

Sandin-Carlson
Chychrun-Roy
Fehervary-Van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Thompson

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Washington Hockey – Inside The Rink

Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines

Zucker-Cozens-Thompson
Peterka-Kulich-Tuch
Benson-Krebs-Quinn
Malenstyn-McLeod-Aube-Kubel

Dahlin-Byram
Power-Samuelsson
Gilbert-Clifton

Luukkonen
Reimer

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Buffalo Hockey – Inside The Rink

Players To Watch:

Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson this season has 30 points on 16 goals and 14 assists. He’s faced Buffalo 33 times in his career recording 19 points on 11 goals and eight assists; in the previous matchup this season he scored two goals. 

Buffalo Sabres

Jason Zucker this season has 31 points on 15 goals and 16 assists. He’s faced Washington 26 times in his career recording 12 points on five goals and seven assists; he scored a goal in the matchup earlier this season. 

Injury Report:

Washington Capitals 

F Nicklas Backstrom – IR
F TJ Oshie – IR 
F Sonny Milano – IR 

Buffalo Sabres

F Jordan Greenway – IR 
D Jacob Bryson – Out

Next Game

Washington – January 8 vs Vancouver Canucks
Buffalo – January 9 at Ottawa Senators

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.

1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing 32:56
2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos 24:53
3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening 37:46
4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10