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Game preview
The Washington Capitals “are running out of runway” to get back in the playoff picture after their fourth loss in seven games since the Olympic break. Now they’ll face one against one of the hottest teams in the NHL — the surging Buffalo Sabres — on the back end of a back-to-back.
The Sabres come into the matchup winners of their last 8 games and sit first in the Atlantic Division with 86 standings — two behind the Carolina Hurricanes for a share of first overall in the Eastern Conference. They are an absolutely insane 29-5-2 since December 9, and appear likely to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011 — a 15-year drought.
The Sabres are led by the gold medal-winning American, Tage Thompson, who has 70 points (34g, 36a) in 65 games. Thompson is one of four Sabres players who has 20-or-more goals including Alex Tuch (28), Josh Doan (21), and Jason Zucker (20).
The Capitals will turn to Charlie Lindgren in net, with Logan Thompson starting last night in Philadelphia. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said pregame that the lines and pairs might change, but the same players will take the ice, meaning Declan Chisholm, Dylan McIlrath, and Ivan Miroshnichenko will be the healthy scratches.
On the Sabres’ end, Alex Tuch is a game-time decision, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will get the start in goal.
Tonight’s game is on Monumental Sports Network: The Dos.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Buffalo Sabres
Goalie matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Duhaime-McMichael-Frank and Sandin-Roy get the start.
Tage Thompson has 11 goals in 24 career games against Washington by the way. He loves playing the Caps.
The Sabres have the game’s first five shots, five minutes in.
On shot 6, Beck Malenstyn with a no-look backhand pass to Sam Carrick for a layup. BECK BE BALLIN’ NOW.
1-0 Buffalo Sabres
Goal: Sam Carrick (6). Assists: B. Malenstyn (5). Time: 6:02
Alex Ovechkin and Anthony Beauvillier get the Capitals’ first shots on goal at 9:55. Ovi throws a shot on net off UPL’s pad and Beauvi gets the rebound. The Sabres now own a 9-2 lead in shots.
Alex Ovechkin with a huge hit on Owen Power along the corner boards, dropping him to the ice. Vintage Ovi!
A Connor McMichael chance was just reviewed by officials for several minutes. A shot hit the back gladd, caromed back to the side of the net, where McMichael shot the puck. UPL made the save as he took off the goal frame. The puck was determined to not fully cross the goal line under him.
Penalty kill
Connor McMichael hooking penalty (2 minutes) at 17:50
Five straight Tage Thompson one-timers on the power play within seconds of each other. A shooting gallery. Huge cheers from the Sabres crowd. What an insanely good power play.
At intermission: The Sabres lead 1-0. Shots on goal are 15-3 Sabres.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Ryan Leonard down the right wing and beats UPL clean on the right wing. Beautiful! He now has a five-game point streak.
1-1 tie
Goal: Ryan Leonard (14). Unassisted. Time: 2:14
Midway through the second period, shots are 22-7 Sabres. Yikes.
Capitals going to their first power play after Sourdif absorbs a slash from Pearson.
Power play
Tanner Pearson slashing penalty (2:00) at 12:50
Ovi rips one off the crossbar right off a faceoff.
Ovi rips another one off the pipe and out, that might have been deflected by Tom Wilson in front.
Caps can’t score.
Shortly after the power play ends, Martin Fehervary holds Josh Norris on a breakaway. Lindgren makes the skate save.
Penalty kill
Martin Fehervary holding penalty (2 mins) at 16:41
Capitals kill the penalty.
At intermission: It’s tied 1-1. The Sabres are outshooting the Capitals 25 to 9. It feels like just a matter of time before the Sabres explode this game wide open.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson, late on a shift, steals the puck in the Sabres offensive zone, sends himself on a breakaway but is stopped by UPL at 2:19.
Lapierre stopped on a two-on-one break.
Power play
Logan Stanley holding penalty (2 mins) at 6:08
Caps can’t score on the power play.
Capitals are competitive in this period, but just seems like a matter of time the Sabres score.
Ryan McLeod just misses on a scoring chance down low.
Connor McMichael nearly scores again on a weird play near the net but UPL keeps the puck from crossing the goal line again.
Chyrhun scores on a one-timer with 1:33 to go after some nice work behind the net by Protas.
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Jakob Chychrun (23). Assists: A. Protas (24), T. van Riemsdyk (7). Time: 18:27
Connor McMichael misses the empty net from the neutral zone. Icing with 43 seconds remaining.
Capitals win 2-1. Whoa. Per TJ Oshie: “The Capitals make the hottest team in the league look human.” Sabres only outshot the Capitals 30-22 by the end of the game.
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