This is a 10* PUCK-LINE ASSASSIN on the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres returned to action and lost both games at home to the Islanders, who came into that two-game series red hot.

With those two back-to-back opening contests out of the way and with most of the rust shaken off, I like the Sabres to at the very least, keep this game competitive until the final moments.

Despite their win/loss record, the Sabres have solid goaltending with Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark.

Washington comes in off a 3-1 over the Penguins. The Capitals issues this year have come on the defensive side of the ice though and I believe they'll struggle to duplicate their latest performance.

Note as well that the Capitals are an extremely poor 4-17 in their last 21 following a victory.

Let's not read too much into Buffalo's performance against the Islanders. I'm not anyways.

This one could easily see extra time or a shootout, so I'm going to lay the reasonable price for the extra goal-and-a-half.

The play is BUFFALO on the PUCKLINE.

Good luck, NP