The Washington Capitals are back home after a week away out west and they should get a major emotional boost at Capital One Arena. Longtime color commentator Craig Laughlin is making his return to the broadcasting booth after having open-heart surgery seven weeks ago. Welcome back, Locker. Not only were you missed, but Capitals hockey is not quite the same without you.
The Capitals come into today’s matchup against the Buffalo Sabres on a rare two-game losing streak after catching L’s in both of their road games against the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild.
Alex Ovechkin enters today’s game with 889 goals, 6 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. James Reimer will get the start against the Capitals and oppose Logan Thompson in net. Lindy Ruff says don’t count Ovi out on a double hat trick today.
Puck drop for Caps-Sabres is set for 3:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. JOE B AND LOCKER have the call.
.@Laughlin18's first words back: "I feel fantastic. It's been a long journey. It's been mentally and physically challenging, but I feel like I've been set up for this date. I wanted to come back and it's worked out just perfectly with the doctors and everyone surrounding me." pic.twitter.com/dlKGBtcp6r
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 30, 2025
Lines
Washington Capitals
Buffalo Sabres
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped after an emotional opener from Craig Laughlin.
Crazy stat from @MonSportsNet pregame. The Capitals are the only team in the NHL without a power-play goal since March 7. Twenty-three days ago.
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 30, 2025
Huge save by James Reimer on Tom Wilson after a sensational feed by Martin Fehervary finds the forward wide open in front.
Pierre-Luc Dubois to the box for roughing giving the Sabres the first power play of the game.
Capitals kill the power play. They’re 27 of their last 30 per Joe B.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Jakob Chychrun (19). Assists: A. Ovechkin (25), D. Strome (46). Time: 10:06.
Huge Ovi clapper leads to a Jakob Chychrun goal.
Very, very very emotional salute to Craig Laughlin during the first TV timeout by Wes Johnson.
Rasmus Sandin to the box for boarding JJ Peterka at 11:10. All heck is breaking loose in the corner afterward. McLeod and Carlson also get minors for roughing at 11:10.
🚨 1-1 tie. BUF PPG: Tage Thompson (37). Assists: A. Tuch (26), J. Peterka (35). Time: 12:49.
Tage Thompson finds the rebound in the crease and roofs it past Thompson. He has seven goals in his last 9 games against the Capitals.
Capitals to the their first power play of the game after Byram hooks Eller at 15:28.
At intermission: This game is tied 1-1. Caps lead in shots 10 to 7.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-1 Buffalo Sabres. BUF Goal: Ryan McLeod (30). Assists: J. Quinn (18), O. Power (32). Time: 02:14.
McLeod scores in front being draped by Matt Roy.
🚨 2-2 tie. WSH Goal: Jakob Chychrun (20). Unassisted. Time: 02:46.
Chychrun has his first 20-goal season. It’s the candles.
🚨 3-2 Buffalo Sabres. BUF Goal: Alex Tuch (30). Assists: C. Clifton (12), J. Zucker (28). Time: 05:17.
Sick tip by Tuch ties it up.
Logan Thompson stops Tage Thompson on a breakaway.
🚨 4-2 Buffalo Sabres. BUF Goal: Sam Lafferty (3). Assists: C. Clifton (13). Time: 11:52.
Thompson beat again in front. He’s shaking his head in disbelief.
PLD with a double minor for high-sticking at 18:51.
At intermission: The Caps trail 4-2. Shots are 16 to 15 Caps. Sabres will have 2:51 remaining on their power play coming out for the third period.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 4-3 Buffalo Sabres. WSH SHG: Aliaksei Protas (30). Unassisted. Time: 00:37.
What in the world was Owen Power doing. Big Pro takes advantage of his crazy, going backhand, forehand and beats Reimer five hole. Tom Wilson grabs Protas’s milestone 30-goal goal puck. THE CAPS HAVE LIFE.
🚨 5-3 Buffalo Sabres. BUF PPG: Tage Thompson (38). Assists: J. Zucker (29), J. Peterka (36). Time: 01:28.
Thompson gets a piece of it but not enough.
🚨 6-3 Buffalo Sabres. BUF Goal: Jack Quinn (14). Unassisted. Time: 05:40.
Oy vey. Quinn roofs it on a breakaway. Logan Thompson looks beleaguered.
🚨 6-4 Buffalo Sabres. WSH Goal: Alex Ovechkin (37). Assists: R. Sandin (24), T. van Riemsdyk (20). Time: 09:11.
Alex Ovechkin career goal no. 890 on a deflection. FIVE AWAY.
🚨 6-5 Buffalo Sabres. WSH PPG: Pierre-Luc Dubois (19). Assists: A. Ovechkin (26), D. Strome (47). Time: 14:03.
PLD tips an Ovechkin shot from the point.
🚨 7-5 Buffalo Sabres. BUF Goal: Alex Tuch (31). Assists: M. Samuelsson (8). Time: 15:34.
Thompson to the bench around the 2:30 mark for an extra attacker.
🚨 8-5 Buffalo Sabres. BUF ENG: Peyton Krebs (8). Assists: J. Quinn (20). Time: 19:36.
Great effort by Krebs to put a bow on it.
Sabres beat Capitals by putting up an ungreat eight against them.
Goals galore but far too many in the wrong net: Sabres beat Capitals 8-5
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