It’s another big game, folks.
The Washington Capitals are in Buffalo to take on the Sabres. After defeating the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, they jumped into the second wild card spot in the East despite a six-game losing streak before that. Now they need another two points to control their own destiny in the remaining four games.
The Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday. It’s unclear what the Capitals are going to get out of them: an angry feisty team or a club that’s pseudo given up.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call. Puck drop is a little after 7 pm.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Scratches: Ivan Miroshnichenko, Michael Sgarbossa, and Lucas Johansen
Buffalo Sabres
Scratches: Eric Robinson and Victor Olofsson. (Bowen Byram is out for personal reasons.)
Tunnel weirdness
big mood pic.twitter.com/6Z5Qfw26Yp
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 11, 2024
1st Period
Charlie Lindgren will oppose Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net. Protas-Strome-Wilson and Fehervary-Carlson get the start.
🚨 1-0 Sabres. Zach Benson scores on a deflection a few feet away from the net. Assists: Jeff Skinner and Peyton Krebs. Time of goal 19:00.
The numbers may not reflect this, but that was a slow period that’s for sure. The Capitals outshot the Sabres 9 to 5 and out-attempted them 26 to 10 at five-on-five. They go into intermission down 1-0.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-0 Sabres. Alex Tuch catches Connor McMichael flat-footed and beats Charlie Lindgren clean with a wrist shot. Assists: Henri Jokiharju and Tage Thompson. Time of goal 12:37.
Alex Tuch's 22nd of the season 😤#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/VIj7TdNZtu
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 12, 2024
The Caps seem like they’re skating in mud.
🚨 2-1 Sabres. Max Pacioretty skates down the right wing with speed and finds Connor McMichael with a tip-in in front of the net. Assists: Pacioretty and John Carlson. McMichael’s 18th comes at 14:36.
McMike has scored some big goals down the stretch.
With his tally against Buffalo, Connor McMichael now has 18 goals on the season.
Since the All-Star break, McMichael has the second-most 5v5 goals on the Capitals (9) trailing only Alex Ovechkin (11).
Ovi 11
McMike 9
Lapierre 6
Strome 6
Milano 6
Sgarbossa 4— Ian Oland (@ianoland) April 12, 2024
The Capitals are outshooting the Sabres 15 to 11 and out-attempting them 35 to 30 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson to the box for tripping at 0:16.
Caps seem to realize they might miss the playoffs if they don’t like, do stuff. There is urgency on offense now.
Uh ohhhhhhh. [sad trombone]
🚨 3-1 Sabres. Jack Quinn walks down broadway and beats Lindgren easily from the slot. There were three Caps defenders including Dylan Strome way caved in giving Quinn the space he needed to score. Assists: Connor Clifton and Jordan Greenway. Time of goal 9:46.
TOO. SMOOTH. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/r7QQAuHKLx
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 12, 2024
🚨 4-1 Sabres. Dylan Cozens empty-netter. Ultimate groin punch. Time of goal 17:43.
🚨 4-2 Sabres. Tom Wilson redirects a John Carlson shot from the point and in. Time of goal: 19:00.
Chaos ensues at the buzzer after TJ Oshie throws an unnecessary hit at Tage Thompson at the buzzer. A scrum ensues. Max Pacioretty taking punch after punch from Tage Thompson. Tom Wilson is fighting Jordan Greenway.
Caps lose 4-2. Capitals outshoot Sabres 24 to 17 and out-attempt them 54 to 43 at five-on-five.
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