Capitals Slashed by Sabres

The Washington Capitals' eight-game unbeaten run came to an end on Day 112 in a 7-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The setback dropped Washington to 23-29-9 for the season.

Buffalo opened the scoring at 5:54 of the first period when former-Capital Berard netted from Spezza and Parrish. Ivan Rachunek evened the score just 23 seconds later with a goal from Severin Blindenbacher and Joffrey Lupul. Pettinger gave the Sabres the lead again when he tallied from Decaire and Hlavac at 8:57, before Parrish converted from Spezza and Berard to make it 3-1.

Washington pulled a goal back early in the second period to make it 3-2. Greg Watson got the goal from Artem Chubarov and Frantisek Lukes at 6:22. The Sabres responded with a pair of goals to go ahead by three. Hagos scored both in a 22 second span. Markov setup the first, while Berg and Petrov earned the helpers on the second. Todd Warriner got the Caps back within two when he scored from Patrick Marleau and Blindenbacher at 19:44.

Buffalo surged to a four-goal lead with two more goals early in the final period. Vasicek netted first from Pettinger and Hlavac at 1:19, and Sykora made it 7-3 from Berard and Kovalchuk at 3:35. Lukes scored his 14th of the year for Washington from Chubarov and Watson at 9:16, before Marleau finished the scoring from Blindenbacher and Dan Boyle at 13:33.

JS Giguere made 16 saves in the loss. Kevin Weekes stopped eight of 10 shots in relief. Jani Hurme earned the win with 28 saves.

The Capitals host the New York Rangers on Day 116.