Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The Buffalo Sabres did a great job of honoring Jeff Skinner for his 1,000th NHL game, as he and his teammates went out and made life miserable for the Washington Capitals in a 6-2 win.
It was the 0-for-18 power play that helped the Sabres win the game, as they went a perfect 2-for-2. Buffalo hadn’t netted a power play goal in seven games, but with the score at 1-1 in the first period, JJ Peterka scored from an off angle to leave the period ahead, 2-1.
Late in the second period, Washington got its first power play of the game and it only took them 23 seconds to score their 27th power play goal in their last 77 attempts.
Peterka took an offensive zone penalty just 38 seconds into the third period, but Max Pacioretty canceled it out 1:08 later.
When Peterka got out of the box, the power play struck again with Rasmus Dahlin scoring from the point.
The Caps then abandoned their goalie Charlie Lindgren, leaving Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch all alone for goals and in just 2:30 to make it 6-2, Buffalo.
Lindgren left the net giving up six goals on 31 shots in 45:33 of work.
Thompson had a goal and two assists in that 2:30, joining Peterka, Dahlin and Tuch with three-point nights for the Sabres.
Since March 12, Peterka and Thompson have eight goals, which is only one behind Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman, New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis and Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point.
Since March 9, Thompson has nine goals, which is only behind Point and Jarvis. Thompson has 17 points in 12 games.
Skinner had two golden opportunities to score on his night when Lindgren robbed him on a wide-open one-timer set up by Krebs. In the third, he created an opportunity for himself right in front of Darcy Kuemper, but hit the crossbar.
This game was definitely an example of their best players being their best players.
Zach Benson had a really good game for the Sabres.
On the first power play goal, it was Benson who came in through the left circle and went all the way across the crease to Peterka for the goal. On Thompson’s goal, it was Benson who kept the puck alive, even though he was off balance. He got it to Jack Quinn, who quickly found the wide-open Thompson for the goal.
Quinn looked the best he’s looked since coming back from his ankle injury, and this was his fourth game back.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got better as this game went on. Washington scored at 2:46 of the first period when he was screened by the 6-foot-6 and 225-pound Aliaksel Protas, and Martin Fehervary’s shot whistled right between his pads and in. He probably could’ve made the save without seeing the puck had his pads been flatter on the ice.
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Buffalo gets two days off before the Philadelphia Flyers come to town on Friday. Philadelphia will also be off and will be well-rested.
Buffalo now leads the New Jersey Devils by one point, is two points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins, four points behind the New York Islanders and five points back of both the Detroit Red Wings and Capitals.
The Sabres are six points back of the Flyers.
