Sabres at Capitals
Once comfortably atop the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals have dropped 10 of their last 16 contests (6-6-4) to see both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia find their way into the mix. The Capitals look to get back on track on Saturday as they bid for a season series victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres, who own a 5-0-1 mark in their last six road games.
Washington's lone win in its last four outings came at Buffalo on Monday, with captain Alex Ovechkin helping to erase the memory of a 7-1 shellacking against Chicago by scoring to reach the 35-goal plateau for the 10th time in 13 seasons in a 3-2 win over the Sabres. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient scored in Tuesday's 4-2 setback versus Tampa Bay and set up a goal two nights later in a 3-2 loss to Florida, giving him 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 11 games this month. Popular potential trade-deadline acquisition Evander Kane netted his third goal this season versus Washington on Monday and tallied again in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win at Detroit. "I understand the business so I can see why some teams choose to do that (scratch him to preserve health), but that's not what I want," Kane said. "I want to be on the ice with my team, no matter what is going to happen. I don't want to watch."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG-B (Buffalo), NBCS Washington
ABOUT THE SABRES (18-32-11): Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored and set up a goal against the Red Wings to give him seven points (three goals, four assists) in the past eight games, but it was his three hits and four blocked shots that truly impressed coach Phil Housley. "I think his game has gotten to be back where it should be," Housley said. "Not because he's getting production. I think just his compete and his battle, he leans on guys, he's physical, just has more urgency in his game. Because of that, I think he's getting rewarded in the production area." Defenseman Marco Scandella scored in the waning moments of overtime against the Red Wings, giving him two goals in three games after mustering just one in his previous 58.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (34-20-7): Braden Holtby is in uncharted waters as he yielded two late third-period goals versus the Panthers and 22 total on 158 shots during his career-high five-game losing skid (0-3-2). The 2016 Vezina Trophy recipient will look to get back in the swing of things in his first meeting this season versus Buffalo, against which he owns an 8-3-1 mark with one shutout. Offensive-minded defenseman John Carlson scored and set up a goal against the Sabres in the last meeting, marking his only points in his last five games.
OVERTIME
1. Washington C Lars Eller has scored in back-to-back games to increase his goal total to 13, which is three shy of his career high set in 2011-12 when he was with Montreal.
2. Sabres G Robin Lehner has turned aside 106 of 115 shots against the Capitals, but only has a 1-2-0 mark to show for it.
3. Washington LW Andre Burakovsky has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past six games.