(Photo: Sagnik Bagchi/Essentially Sports)
The Buffalo Sabres visit the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday, October 24, 2026, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM EDT.
Matchup: Buffalo Sabres (4-4-2, 10 points in 2026-27) at Washington Capitals (5-4-0, 10 points in 2026-27)
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Puck drop: 7:00 PM EDT
Venue: Capital One Arena
How to watch: WSH: MNMT · BUF: MSG-B
Buffalo Sabres News & Notes
Rasmus Dahlin was hurt early in the second period against Florida on October 12, appearing to injure himself on a shot from the slot that Panthers goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped. The captain did not return, and Buffalo won 5-3 behind Noah Ostlund’s third-period power-play goal and a goal and an assist from Tage Thompson. Dahlin then missed a loss in Montreal, a 5-4 win in Toronto that featured a four-point night from Jack Quinn, and the second game in Montreal.
The blue line thinned further with Matt Grzelcyk placed on injured reserve retroactive to October 1 and Dennis Gilbert recalled from Rochester, while goaltender Alex Lyon suffered a setback with his shoulder. Dahlin and Jason Zucker were both reported ready to return ahead of Wednesday’s home game against Philadelphia, with Zucker’s debut cleared by a series of roster moves. The Sabres could not rally in that one, losing to the Flyers, who got two first career goals from rookie Cole Knuble.
Washington Capitals News & Notes
Washington improved to 5-3-0 with a 4-2 win over New Jersey on Oct. 17 in the District, rallying after the Devils opened the scoring. Ryan Leonard tied it at 16:42 of the first on an individual effort, with Jakob Chychrun and Logan Thompson credited for assists. Ilya Protas scored his first of the season early in the second off an Alex Ovechkin feed, Dylan Strome added his first at 4:36 from Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner converted a loose puck at 11:14.
Thompson has since been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and the club assigned Jonny Brodzinski to the AHL in a corresponding move. The Capitals have also issued updates on Vincent Desharnais, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Justin Sourdif. Tuch, acquired from Buffalo and signed to an extension in the offseason, faces his former team next. Ovechkin, who re-signed over the summer, announced that 2026-27 will be his final NHL season.
Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines
Line 1: Jason Zucker – Tage Thompson – Konsta Helenius
Line 2: Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Line 3: Ryan McLeod – Josh Norris – Josh Doan
Line 4: Tyson Kozak – Peyton Krebs – Beck Malenstyn
Pair 1: Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Pair 2: Olen Zellweger – Owen Power
Pair 3: Zach Metsa – Louis Crevier
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Colten Ellis
Buffalo Sabres Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Jack Quinn – Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Tage Thompson – Rasmus Dahlin
Power play, Second unit: Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Josh Doan – Owen Power – Josh Norris
Penalty kill, First unit: Ryan McLeod – Zach Benson – Mattias Samuelsson – Owen Power
Penalty kill, Second unit: Josh Norris – Beck Malenstyn – Zach Metsa – Olen Zellweger
Washington Capitals Projected Lines
Line 1: Aliaksei Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson
Line 2: Alex Tuch – Dylan Strome – Jordan Kyrou
Line 3: Alex Ovechkin – Ilya Protas – Anthony Beauvillier
Line 4: Boone Jenner – Justin Sourdif – Ryan Leonard
Pair 1: Jakob Chychrun – Matt Roy
Pair 2: Martin Fehervary – Timothy Liljegren
Pair 3: Cole Hutson – Dylan McIlrath
Goaltenders: Charlie Lindgren – Logan Thompson
Washington Capitals Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Tom Wilson – Dylan Strome – Jordan Kyrou – Alex Ovechkin – Jakob Chychrun
Power play, Second unit: Ilya Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Alex Tuch – Ryan Leonard – Cole Hutson
Penalty kill, First unit: Aliaksei Protas – Tom Wilson – Martin Fehervary – Matt Roy
Penalty kill, Second unit: Boone Jenner – Alex Tuch – Jakob Chychrun – Dylan McIlrath
Players To Watch
Tage Thompson — Buffalo Sabres
Thompson went pointless last time out but still put three shots on goal, and the underlying work says the chances keep coming. Box Score Junkie has him at 56.9% Corsi-for with 66.9 shot attempts for per 60 this season to date, plus six goals on 4.7 expected. Shots-on-goal props look live.
Ryan Leonard — Washington Capitals
Leonard scored on two shots in his last outing, and he’s been in the right spots all year. Box Score Junkie’s 2026-27 numbers have him at 55.2% Corsi-for with a team-best 69.9 shot attempts for per 60, and he’s at four goals on 2.9 expected. A reasonable anytime-scorer look.
Injury Report
Buffalo Sabres
Jiri Kulich (C) — Day-To-Day, Face, expected back Saturday, October 24
Justin Danforth (RW) — Day-To-Day, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Sam Carrick (C) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Alex Lyon (G) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 31
Matt Grzelcyk (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Conor Timmins (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Jack Rathbone (D) — Injured Reserve, Undisclosed, expected back Saturday, October 24
Washington Capitals
Vincent Desharnais (D) — Injured Reserve, Abdomen, expected back Saturday, December 5
Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW) — Injured Reserve, Illness, expected back Saturday, October 24
Logan Thompson (G) — Day-To-Day, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Justin Sourdif (RW) — Day-To-Day, Illness, expected back Saturday, October 24
Rasmus Sandin (D) — Injured Reserve, Knee, expected back Saturday, December 26
Patrick Thomas (C) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Next Up
Buffalo Sabres: visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, October 27.
Washington Capitals: host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, October 28.