Luukkonen stops 22 shots and Buffalo Sabres play spoilers in beating the Washington Capitals 4-2

The Buffalo Sabres handed the Washington Capitals a disappointing defeat with a 4-2 win on April 11, 2023, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was the standout player for the Sabres, making a total of 22 saves throughout the game. This victory came just two days after Buffalo's heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, which extended their NHL record playoff drought to an unfortunate 13th season.

Alex Tuch opened the scoring for the Sabres with a goal in the first period, followed by Zach Benson's tally midway through the second frame. Jack Quinn added another goal for Buffalo late in the second period, while Dylan Cozens sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game.

The Capitals, who were aiming for a crucial win to keep their playoff hopes alive, could only manage two goals from Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson. McMichael's goal came in the first period, while Wilson's was a power-play goal in the third period.

The loss was a significant blow for the Capitals, who have struggled this season with a record of 1-5-2 in their past eight games. The defeat also marked their second loss to the Sabres within a span of nine days, as they had previously lost 5-3 on April 3, 2023.

Charlie Lindgren, who started for the Capitals, allowed three goals on a total of 16 shots before being replaced by Vitek Vanecek midway through the second period. The Sabres outshot the Capitals 31-24, demonstrating their dominance throughout the game.

The win was a morale-boosting one for the Sabres, who have had a challenging season, and it provided them with a small glimmer of hope as they continue their quest to end their long playoff drought. The loss, on the other hand, dealt a significant blow to the Capitals' playoff aspirations, making their road to the postseason even more challenging.