Capitals Defeat Sabres 2-1 in Tight Contest

Chychrun's late goal snaps Sabres' 8-game win streak

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:33am

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The Washington Capitals defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 on Thursday night, with Jakob Chychrun scoring the game-winning goal with just 1:33 remaining in regulation. Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves for the Capitals, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen recorded 20 saves for the Sabres. The Sabres' Sam Carrick opened the scoring in the first period, but Ryan Leonard tied it up for the Capitals in the second. Chychrun's late heroics gave the Capitals the victory and snapped the Sabres' eight-game winning streak.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Capitals as they look to solidify their playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres had been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, so this result shows the Capitals can compete with the league's top teams. The game also featured the debuts of new Sabres players Luke Schenn and Tanner Pearson, acquired at the trade deadline.

The details

Chychrun's game-winning goal came after a pass from Aliaksei Protas. Carrick had given the Sabres the lead in the first period with a backhand goal assisted by Beck Malenstyn, but Leonard tied it up for the Capitals in the second. The game remained tied until Chychrun's late heroics in the third period.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 13, 2026.
  • Carrick scored the opening goal for the Sabres at 6:02 of the first period.
  • Leonard tied the game for the Capitals at 2:14 of the second period.
  • Chychrun scored the game-winning goal for the Capitals with 1:33 remaining in the third period.

The players

Jakob Chychrun

A defenseman for the Washington Capitals who scored the game-winning goal late in the third period.

Charlie Lindgren

The goaltender for the Washington Capitals who made 29 saves in the victory.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who made 20 saves in the loss.

Sam Carrick

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored the opening goal of the game.

Ryan Leonard

A forward for the Washington Capitals who scored the game-tying goal in the second period.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little sluggish to start, but the guys really battled back and found a way to get the win. Chychrun made a great play at the end there.”

— Peter Laviolette, Head Coach, Washington Capitals (Capitals press conference)

“It's tough to have the streak end like that, but credit to the Capitals for making the plays when it counted. We'll regroup and get back on track.”

— Don Granato, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres (Sabres press conference)

What’s next

The Capitals will look to build on this win as they continue their push for the playoffs, while the Sabres will aim to start a new winning streak in their next game.

The takeaway

This was a hard-fought game between two strong teams, with the Capitals ultimately prevailing thanks to Chychrun's late heroics. The result shows the Capitals' ability to compete with the league's top teams, while the Sabres' impressive recent run came to an end.