Today’s matinee between the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals wasn’t the most thrilling hockey game. The Capitals played a nice road game while the Sabres struggled to sustain offense for at least the first 40 minutes of the game.
The first period felt like the two clubs were just working to get their legs under them. Chad Johnson made a few nice saves to keep the game scoreless. Nobody was able to find the back of the net and the Capitals held a 14-10 lead in shots after 20.
Alex Ovechkin got the Capitals on the scoreboard first 1:18 into the second period. He deflected a shot past Johnson for his 35th goal of the season. John Carlsson would increase the lead to two in the second half of the period.
Like we saw in Saturday the Sabres turned the heat up in the third period. They outshot the Caps 17-6 in the final 20 minutes. Kyle Okposo got his club within one when he deflected a Scott Wilson shot by Philipp Grubauer.
The Sabres had a few more chances in the final few minutes but were unable to score the tying goal.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Evan Rodrigues miscommunicated on a drop pass in their own zone. That allowed Evgeni Kuznetsov to backhand the puck into an open net to seal the win for the Capitals.
Evander Kane did add a goal with 3.3 seconds left, but still not enough as the Sabres drop another afternoon game.
Final Score: Capitals 3, Sabres 2
Shots on Goal: Capitals 30 | Sabres 34
Sabres Goal Scorers: Okposo (10) and Kane (19)
Capitals Goal Scorers: Ovechkin (35), Carlson (11) and Kuznetsov (16)
Three Stars of the Game
1. Alex Ovechkin (1 G)
2. John Carlsson (1 G, 1 A)
3. Kyle Okposo (1 G)
Comment of the Game
0-6-1
in afternoon games
”What’s that? Ah — Playoffs?” – ‘17-’18 Buffalo Sabres