Just hours removed from learning the Sabres were playoff-bound, the Caps struck early, late, and often to keep their own playoff hopes alive and take down the surprising Buffalo squad.
Plus: Seeing Ryan Leonard get a beautiful goal after an equally lovely drop pass from Cole Hutson on a play started by Justin Sourdif was just a really wonderful moment and hopefully a great sign of things to come.
Minus: Didn’t love the way the Caps let off the gas in the first period after jumping out to a very quick 3-0 lead, with the Sabres scoring twice to cut the deficit to one by the time the frame was over. At least they did seem to learn their lesson and locked things down as the game went on.
Caps Player of the Game: How about Connor McMichael, snapping an 11-game goal-scoring drought with the eventual game-winning goal (and adding an assist on Tom Wilson’s shorthanded goal)? But a good all-around team game tonight.