This was a crazy and back and fourth game in the beginning before things got out of hand. The Washington Capitals, fresh off a win over the New York Rangers, fell to the Buffalo Sabres 7-4 stirring the pot for more questions between now and the trade deadline.
Dylan Cozens struck first at 10:40. Dylan Strome tied it at 14:45 for his 13th goal of the season with the assists coming from Nick Jensen and T.J. Oshie. The Sabres retook the lead thanks to Tage Thompson at 16:35 before Oshie re tied it 15 seconds later for his 15th goal of the season. Strome and Jensen helped there.
2-2 was the score after one with the Caps leading in shots 11-10. In the second period the Sabres got hot scoring four consecutive goals.
Jeff Skinner gave them the lead at 5:49. Zemgus Girgensons scored at 8:36. Vinnie Hinostroza scored at 10:07. Cozens added his second goal of the game at 12:49. Alex Ovechkin stopped the bleeding for his 33rd goal of the season and 813th goal of his career, putting him at 81 goals away from number one Wayne Gretzky. Erik Gustafsson and Evgeny Kuznetsov had the assists at 15:49.
Sonny Milano brought the Caps to within two for a power play goal at 18:40. It was his 10th goal of the season. 6-4 was the score after two with the Sabres leading in shots 17-8 in the second period.
Cozens would complete the hat trick at 11:52. 7-4 would be the final. The Caps outshot the Sabres 11-10 in the third period but were outshot 37-30 overall. After Darcy Kuemper allowed the games fifth goal he smashed his stick against the goal post before getting pulled by coach Peter Laviolette for Charlie Lindgren. It was the second consecutive day Kuemper got the start in goal.
February is over and now things are about to get real interesting over the course of the next week.