The Buffalo Sabres head to Washington to take on the Capitals in a matchup between two teams that are trending upward.
Here are four player props for consideration in what has the potential to be a goal-filled evening.
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Alexander Ovechkin – Over 4.5 Shots
Alex Ovechkin had quite the finish to 2022. Not only did he hit 800 goals and pass Gordie Howe’s mark of 801, but he also registered a hat trick to ring in the new year on NYE.
The ageless wonder now has 45 points in 39 games this season. He’s been shooting the puck like a maniac in recent games, and we like him to continue the trend. Ovi has had five or more shots in four of his last five games.
He’ll face the Sabres tonight, who rank 25th in the league in shots against (33). With plus money odds from the sportsbooks, there’s value in taking the over here.
Tage Thompson – Over 0.5 Points
This season has been a breakout year for Tage Thompson, to say the least. The winger already has 51 points through his first 35 games – good for sixth in the league in scoring.
After sizzling through most of December, he appeared to burn out a little towards the end. Thompson has just one point in his last three games and failed to notch any against the Senators two nights ago.
He should be refreshed and ready to get back on track in Washington. He had 13 points on the road in seven games in December. Look for him to get at least one tonight.
Evgeny Kuznetsov – Over 0.5 Assists
Kuznetsov finished December strong and is currently riding a five-game point streak (8 points). He had three helpers on NYE against the Canadiens in a 9-2 walloping. The playmaker now has 33 points on the season – 27 of them assists.
The Washington Capitals are rolling right now – 8-1-1 in their last ten – and should be able to put a few in the net against a porous Buffalo defense. The Sabres rank in the bottom third of the league in goals allowed, shots on goal, and penalty kill percentage.
This could be a high-scoring game, and we like Kuznetsov to be a part of it.
Jeff Skinner – Anytime Goal Scorer
At age 30, Jeff Skinner is on pace for the best year of his career. He’s never sustained a point-per-game average through an entire season, but so far has 38 in 32 games.
After a 33-goal season last year, the Toronto native is on schedule to surpass 40 this campaign. Prior to his recent two-game goal-scoring drought, Skinner had potted at least one in four straight games.
The Sabres are the number-one scoring team in the NHL, averaging 3.91 goals per game. Look for Skinner to notch his 18th tonight in what should be a high-flying affair in the nation’s capital.
