The Washington Capitals are playing another big game? Tell me something I don’t already know!
Tonight’s matchup takes the Caps to Buffalo where they’ll play the Sabres who are just trying to stay alive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Capitals currently occupy the second wild card spot in the East. With a victory, the Sabres could close within three points of Washington.
Not only will the Sabres but highly motivated due to their desire to make the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, but they’ll also be playing for Jeff Skinner who’s suiting up in his 1,000th NHL game.
The Capitals will be without TJ Oshie, who has an upper-body injury. Spencer Carbery will turn to Charlie Lindgren in net. Ivan Miroshnichenko will get first line duty.
Tonight’s game is airing on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is shortly after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Scratches: Vincent Iorio and Matthew Phillips
Buffalo Sabres
Scratches: Jordan Greenway, Tyson Jost, Kale Clague, and Eric Comrie.
Tunnel weirdness
Let's have a go in Buffalo#CapsSabres | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/WAwlEqCwB3
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 2, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net. Ovechkin-McMichael-Miroshnichenko and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. Martin Fehervary booms a slap shot past UPL. Time of goal 2:46. Mike Sgarbossa and Hendrix Lapierre get the assists.
Martin Fehervary then SAVES a goal by backchecking on a Alex Tuch breakawway.
Alex Tuch when all that stands between him and a goal is a Capitals goaltender in a white jersey pic.twitter.com/QUEVXKwa4f
— RMNB (@rmnb) April 2, 2024
Alex Alexeyev hits the cross bar near the six minute mark.
The Sabres’ Jack Quinn hits the post near the seven minute mark.
Alexeyev with a sick cross-ice feed to Connor McMichael wide open in the right circle, but UPL makes a huge save.
🚨 1-1 tie. Rasmus Dahlin walks Beck Malenstyn down the wing. He throws a wrister on net and Zemgus Girgensons deflects it past Lindgren in front of the net. Time of goal 15:42. Rasmus Sandin and Owen Power get the assists.
Rasmus Sandin to the box for hooking at 16:00.
Sabres get the first power play of the game.
🚨 2-1 Sabres. A great seam pass and chaos leads to a JJ Peterka layup at the side of the net. It’s a power-play goal. Malenstyn shows frustration after, as at the last second he couldn’t swipe the puck away. Time of goal 16:50. Alex Tuch and Zach Benson get the assists.
Shots on goal are 13 to 4 Sabres. The Sabres also hold a 5v5 shot-attempts advantage 24 to 15. The Capitals are 6-21-6 when trailing after one period.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 3-1 Sabres. Weak play up the wall by John Carlson. NAK turns it over. JJ Peterka, wide open in front of the net, scores his second of the night. Time of goal 10:54. Alex Tuch with the primary assist.
Lindgren making huge stop after huge stop for the Caps to keep them in this.
Peyton Krebs to the box for holding NAK at 18:51. This is a HUGE power play for the Caps.
🚨 3-2 Sabres. Dylan Strome scores in front of the net on the power play for his 26th goal of the season. The Caps have now scored a PPG in 15 of the last 19 games. Time of goal 19:14. John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin with the assists.
Lindgren’s sensational play in the second period is giving the Caps a shot in the third. The Sabres are outshooting the Capitals 25 to 11 and out-attempting them at 5v5, 46 to 32.
3rd Period
Peterka to the box for tripping John Carlson at the 38 second mark.
The Sabres get a huge scoring chance while shorthanded.
Max Pacioretty ends the Capitals power play early after committing a holding penalty at 1:48.
🚨 4-2 Sabres. Ramus Dahlin blasts a shot past Lindgren on the resulting power-play. Lindgren did not see the shot, Fehervary may have been in shooting lane. Time of goal 3:03. Peterka and Thompson with the assists.
🚨 5-2 Sabres. Tage Thompson scores. Time of goal 4:48. Jack Quinn and Zach Benson with the assists. This one’s about over now.
🚨 6-2 Sabres. Alex Tuch now. Time of goal 5:33. Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin with the assists.
Lindgren is pulled for Darcy Kuemper.
Jeff Skinner dances to the slot but hits the crossbar with his lob shot. He’s laughing as he returns to the bench. Unbelievable play regardless.
NAK hits the crossbar after another heads up pass by Alexeyev. BRO IS DEALING.
Owen Power to the box at 17:58.
Sonny Milano hits the post on the power play.
A truly awful showing in the third period by the Capitals in a game they needed.
Capitals outshot 35 to 24 and out-attempted at 5v5, 59 to 47.
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