Washington @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 21, 2018 ) Buffalo 1, Washington 2

Captain Alex Ovechkin has haunted opposing goaltenders in his last four games, scoring five times to boost his NHL-leading total to 43 this season while reaching 650 in his decorated career. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient aims to continue his torrid ways on Saturday afternoon as the Washington Capitals conclude their season-high six-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres, who have lost four in a row (0-3-1).

"If you look at the standings, especially on the road, if you get a win or can get a point, it's a good result," Ovechkin said after scoring his 20th goal in his last 22 road games in Thursday's 3-2 win over Toronto. Ovechkin scored in the Capitals' 4-3 victory against Buffalo on Dec. 15 to extend his point streak to a career-best 14 games at the time before netting the winner in the shootout. Sabres captain Jack Eichel tallied twice in that contest and set up rookie defenseman Rasmus Dahlin's first-period goal in Thursday's 2-1 shootout loss to Tampa Bay, boosting his point total to 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in his last 15 contests. The 18-year-old Dahlin, the top overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, collected a goal and two assists in the first encounter with Washington.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NBCS Washington, Sportsnet, MSG-B (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (34-20-7): Braden Holtby turned aside 40 shots against the Maple Leafs to improve to 2-2-0 on the road trip despite yielding just 10 goals on 138 shots. The 2016 Vezina Trophy winner improved to 9-3-1 in his career versus Buffalo after making 36 saves -- including 16 in the final 20 minutes -- of a 2-1 win on Dec. 21. Tom Wilson, who netted the go-ahead tally with seven minutes remaining in the third period of that contest, scored and set up a goal for the second time in four games on Thursday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (28-24-8): Evan Rodrigues was taken back to yesteryear by joining former Boston University teammate Eichel -- as well as Jeff Skinner (club-best 36 goals) -- on the same line Thursday. "(Eichel) can make such incredible plays that you can't ever be shocked by the things he does," the 25-year-old Rodrigues told the Buffalo News. "One thing that's overlooked is that he's such a dynamic player that you actually try to get away from him on the ice, let him do his thing one on one. ... You try to find open areas, the weak side of the ice, and be prepared for what he's capable of doing." Rasmus Ristolainen has recorded two of his 31 assists versus Washington, but the defenseman owns a minus-7 rating while being held off the scoresheet in his last six games.

OVERTIME

1. Washington acquired Nick Jensen and a 2019 fifth-round draft pick from Detroit on Friday in exchange for fellow D Madison Bowey and a second-round selection in 2010.

2. Buffalo G Carter Hutton, who is mired in a four-game losing skid, has yielded just six goals in his last three contests.

3. Capitals D John Carlson, who leads the team with 46 assists, has scored one goal and set up five others during his four-game point streak.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Sabres 2