Pregame Notes: Washington Capitals vs. Buffalo Sabres

 The Caps are back home tonight to try to win their 3rd game in a row as somehow despite all the snow the Buffalo Sabres are in town. The Sabres are struggling out the gate with a 5-13-2 record. So on paper the Caps are the favorite but it's the NHL and anything can happen. Here's the lineup this morning.


Forward:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Johansson-Burakovsky-Brouwer
Chimera-Beagle-Ward
Latta-Kuznetsov-Fehr


Defense and Goalies:

Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Schmidt-Green

Holtby
Peters



What to Watch:

*It is unknown as of now who will be in net for the Sabres weather it will be Jonas Enroth or former-Cap Michael Neuvirth. The Caps are expected to go with Braden Holtby tonight.

*Liam O'Brien was participating in the morning skate but from what is on Twitter the lineup will be the same as it was the last two games. Chris Brown was not at the morning skate so that means O'Brien and maybe even Brooks Laich are close to coming back. So, Brown might be heading back to Hershey.

*Jason Chimera is on a two game point streak, and Jay Beagle has 4 points in his last 6 games. I look for that line to have a big impact on the outcome of tonights game.

*Andre Burakovsky has hit a bit of a wall the last couple game, it is possible if his mini slump continues that Evgeny Kuznetsov could get a couple shifts on that 2nd line.

*The top line of Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson played very well in the win in Colorado. I expect them to continue that tonight. Their success in my opinion has to do with how well Tom Wilson is developing. His physicality is really making a difference and he has good speed for as big as he is.

*As I mentioned earlier Braden Holtby is expected to start tonight. Holtby is starting to play very well and the last 5 games he has been great. If he continues to play well the Caps have a chance to rattle of a couple more wins.

*Tonight is a big game because the Caps don't play again till Wednesday on Long Island against the surprising Islanders. It's important the Caps have a strong game tonight and get two points because next week is a big week.

*The Hershey Bears will host the Worcester Sharks at the Giant Center tonight.

*Caps gametime is 7 p.m on CSN