March 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals right winger Ryan Leonard (9) loses control of the puck against Philadelphia Flyers right winger Owen Tippett (74) in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Image The Washington Capitals look to strengthen their flickering playoff ambitions when they visit the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.
The Sabers, who boast a high scoring ability, are expected to roar toward the postseason and aim for their 9th consecutive win.
The Capitals, who ended a three-game losing streak with an impressive 7-3 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday, dropped a 4-1 decision at the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Ryan Leonard converted on a power play to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead after one period before the Flyers scored four straight goals.
Logan Thompson made 18 saves for Washington, which fell seven points behind the Boston Bruins and clinched the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
“I thought they pressured us pretty well to start the second period,” Capitals defenseman Matt Roy said. “Obviously they had a few breaks and gained momentum. I thought we countered well and had opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize.”
Washington continues to have trouble sparking offense. Excluding the seven-goal outing against the Flames, the Capitals have scored two goals or fewer in four of their last five games. Everyone was defeated.
“Overall, I thought we played hard and I thought we were right there,” Capitals coach Spencer Carberry said. “We’re not making enough plays. Tonight, we left a lot on the table just with the puck. … We made a lot of bad plays with the puck. Our execution needs to be better.”
Defenseman Timothy Liljegren, acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Friday, played 14 minutes, 48 seconds and stopped four shots in his Capitals debut.
The Sabers continued their winning streak with a 6-3 win over the visiting Sharks on Tuesday.
Jack Quinn ended a 12-game goal drought with his first NHL hat trick. He also added an assist.
“I think we actually played pretty well after the (Olympic) break and our line had a ton of opportunity,” Quinn said. “We just didn’t produce as much. Or at least I didn’t. I was just glad we turned the corner tonight.”
Quinn’s 43 points surpassed her previous career high of 39 points. His 15 goals this season match his career high in goals set in 2024-25.
“He’s a great scorer and has the talent to do that,” teammate Beck Malenstyn said of Quinn. “He twists his body in a way that I feel like my back would fall off if I tried, and the ability he can get on the puck is just amazing.”
Jason Zucker scored and set up a goal on Tuesday. Captains Rasmus Dahlin and Ryan McLeod each had three assists for the Sabres.
Scoring has not been an issue for Buffalo, who is averaging 4.5 goals per game during the streak. The Sabers are nearing their longest winning streak of the season at 10 games from Dec. 9-31.
Buffalo forward Tage Thompson’s 11-game point streak was halted against San Jose.
Sabers goaltender Uko-Pekka Lukkonen is 6-1-2 with a 2.89 goals-against average (GAA) and .905 save percentage in nine career games with Washington.
Charlie Lindgren is expected to start for the Capitals on Thursday. He is 2-2-2 with a 3.38 GAA and .876 save percentage.
The Sabers won the first meeting between the teams 4-3 in a penalty shootout on November 1. The two teams met again on April 4 in Washington, DC.
–Field level media
