Buffalo Sabres take lead in last Eastern Conference playoff race routing Washington Capitals 5-1-NHL
Washington was not expecting to give up the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference so easily as Buffalo Sabres dominated and routed the Capitals, 5-1, on Tuesday night, March 27, 2012, at the sold-out Verizon Center in Washington, District of Columbia.
After four straight wins earlier in March, Washington was all set not just to get back into the playoff race but to also overtake the South Eastern Division leaders, Florida Panthers, and move back into number-three.
Washington, a team that ended atop the East for the past two seasons, is now most likely out of the playoff race if they fail to grab the increasingly valuable two points in their remaining five games.
"We've been in this mode for a while, a playoff mode where every game has been a must-win for us," Buffalo’s right winger, Drew Stafford, said. "Obviously with this game, them being right there with us in the standings, the stakes are a little bit higher,
but we're not done yet. We're in the position we want to be, but we know the road is just going to get tougher."
Buffalo is now number eight with 86 points, two more than Washington Capitals and only two below seventh spot, Ottawa Senators, a team that could also find itself fighting for a postseason place in the final few games.
"It's a great thing because of the way we're playing," Stafford added. "We can control our fate now. We know every game from now on is just like it's been the past month or so -- it's must-win.”
Cody McCormick registered his first of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season nearly midway through the first while Stafford added the second straight at 18:05.
Thomas Vanek added Buffalo’s third consecutive, making it a 3-0 game by 2:31 into round-two followed by Washington’s first from Alexander Semin and another Sabres goalie sponsored by Jason Pominville on the breakaway.
Stafford capped it off with his 19th goal of the year at 9:29 of round-three to take the match with an easy 5-1 win.
Buffalo Sabres are on a surprising five-game winning streak and have no plans on slowing down any time soon. They take on Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
Washington has a tough upcoming matchup against Boston Bruins on Thursday.
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