Overview
- Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves, including 13 in the first period, Bo Horvat scored the winner early in the third, and Mathew Barzal added an empty-netter after Tom Wilson opened scoring for Washington.
- Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s shorthanded goal was upheld after a Capitals offside challenge, sending the teams to the third period tied 1-1.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois left late in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return, with coach Spencer Carbery indicating he would be re-evaluated on Saturday.
- Dylan Strome returns to the lineup in Buffalo after two games out with a lower-body injury, following a full practice progression from no-contact to regular drills.
- Washington has dropped three straight in regulation with just two goals across those games, went 0-for-4 on the power play against New York and is 6-for-36 this season, with depth strained by Ethen Frank and Rasmus Sandin on injured reserve as Alex Ovechkin remains at 899 career goals.