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Washington Capitals vs Buffalo Sabres

Regular season · Thursday, March 18, 2027 · KeyBank Center

Washington CapitalsWashingtonCapitalsAway

vs

Buffalo SabresBuffaloSabresHome

ESPN+ · HULU · Disney+ · SN+

Game preview

The Washington Capitals visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday, March 18, 2027, with puck drop at 7:30 PM ET. The game is on ESPN+, HULU, Disney+ and SN+.

This is the third of 3 meetings between the teams this season.

Rest and travel

Capitals

First game of a road trip.

  1. 82027-03-08: no game
  2. 92027-03-09: vs CGY
  3. 102027-03-10: at CHI, second of a back-to-backB2B
  4. 112027-03-11: no game
  5. 122027-03-12: no game
  6. 132027-03-13: at PIT
  7. 142027-03-14: no game
  8. 152027-03-15: vs TBL
  9. 162027-03-16: no game
  10. 172027-03-17: vs NYI
  11. 182027-03-18: at BUF, second of a back-to-backB2B
rest since last game
0 days
rest since last game
since last game
~292 mi
since last game
on this road trip
~292 mi
on this road trip
body clock vs home
Home time
body clock vs home

Sabres

Another game at home.

  1. 82027-03-08: no game
  2. 92027-03-09: vs VAN
  3. 102027-03-10: no game
  4. 112027-03-11: no game
  5. 122027-03-12: at DET
  6. 132027-03-13: no game
  7. 142027-03-14: at MIN
  8. 152027-03-15: vs SJS, second of a back-to-backB2B
  9. 162027-03-16: no game
  10. 172027-03-17: no game
  11. 182027-03-18: vs WSH
rest since last game
2 days
rest since last game
since last game
~0 mi
since last game
road trip
–
road trip
body clock vs home
Home time
body clock vs home
Home game Road game This gameB2B = second night of a back-to-back. Distances are approximate.

Lines from last game

Washington CapitalsCapitalsTue, Oct 13 at CAR
  1. L1NewStrome#17Wilson#43Tuch#89
    9:26 together at 5v5
  2. L2NewSourdif#34Beauvillier#72Frank#53
    7:56 together at 5v5
  3. L3Ovechkin#8Protas#21Protas#62
    6:47 together at 5v5
  4. L4NewJenner#22Kyrou#25Leonard#9
    6:08 together at 5v5
  1. D1Chychrun#6Liljegren#27
    14:26 together at 5v5
  2. D2NewFehérváry#42Hutson#44
    10:37 together at 5v5
  3. D3NewHoll#4Desharnais#73
    7:24 together at 5v5

Power play

  1. 1Ovechkin LStrome CWilson RLeonard RChychrun D2:11
  2. 2Protas LTuch RKyrou RFrank RHutson D0:56

Penalty kill

  1. 1Jenner CWilson RDesharnais DFehérváry D1:40
  2. 2Protas LTuch RChychrun DLiljegren D1:00
Buffalo SabresSabresTue, Oct 13 at MTL
  1. L1Benson#6Ostlund#86Quinn#22
    10:23 together at 5v5
  2. L2McLeod#71Kulich#20Helenius#94
    7:12 together at 5v5
  3. L3Thompson#72Krebs#19Doan#91
    6:57 together at 5v5
  4. L4NewMalenstyn#29Norris#9Danforth#15
    6:26 together at 5v5
  1. D1NewSamuelsson#23Zellweger#8
    14:05 together at 5v5
  2. D2Power#25Metsa#73
    11:55 together at 5v5
  3. D3NewGilbert#44Crevier#46
    6:02 together at 5v5

Power play

  1. 1Benson LThompson COstlund CQuinn RPower D3:35

Penalty kill

  1. 1Malenstyn LDanforth RSamuelsson DCrevier D0:55
  2. 2Malenstyn LSamuelsson DPower D0:49

Behind the bench

Each grey tick is one NHL team.

WSHBUF

Settled lines

Share of 5v5 time from the regular top four lines · 2026–27

WSH 65% (13th most shuffled)BUF 64% (12th most shuffled)
← Shuffles linesKeeps lines together →

Goalie pull, down one

Median time left in the 3rd when the goalie comes out, delayed penalties excluded · 2025–26 · under 10 pulls is a small sample

WSH 1:54 left (13th earliest · 13 pulls)BUF 1:54 left (13th earliest · 9 pulls)
← Pulls latePulls early →

Average shift

All skaters, all strengths · 2025–26

WSH 49.8s (7th longest)BUF 46.8s (7th shortest)
← Short shiftsLong shifts →

Caught on long shifts

Share of 5v5 goals against with a skater 60s+ into his shift · 2025–26

WSH 37% (4th most often)BUF 28% (14th least often)
← Rarely caughtOften caught →

Season series