4/4/26 - 7:00pm at Capital One Arena, in Washington D.C. Buffalo – 46-22-8 | - 100 points – 2nd place in the Atlantic Division Washington – 38-29-9 | - 85 points – 6th place in the Metropolitan Division Special Teams Buffalo Power Play – 21.2% (15th) Penalty Kill – 81.9% (T-5th) Washington Power Play – 18.0% (23rd) Penalty Kill - 79.7% (14th) Top Scorers Buffalo Tage Thompson: 76 GP, 38 G, 40 A, 78 PTS Rasmus Dahlin: 72 GP, 17 G, 50 A, 67 PTS Alex Tuch: 73 GP, 29 G, 31 A, 60 PTS Washington Alex Ovechkin: 76 GP, 31 G, 28 A, 59 PTS Jakob Chychrun: 74 GP, 24 G, 33 A, 57 PTS Tom Wilson: 66 GP, 28 G, 28 A, 56 PTS Starting Goalies(projected) Buffalo – Alex Lyon (20-9-4, 2.66 GAA, .910 Sv %) Washington – Logan Thompson (27-21-6, 2.53 GAA, .909 Sv %) Other Sabres Stories Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/six-former-sabres-who-signed-elsewhere] Will Monday's Lightning - Sabres game be for all the marbles in the Atlantic. Sabres Line Combinations and Pairings (projected) Forwards Peyton Krebs - Tage Thompson - Josh Doan Jason Zucker - Josh Norris - Alex Tuch Zach Benson - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn Jordan Greenway - Tyson Kozak - Beck Malenstyn Ex. Tanner Pearson, Josh Dunne Defense Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin Owen Power - Bowen Byram Logan Stanley - Zach Metsa Ex. Conor Timmins, Luke Schenn, Michael Kesselring Goaltenders Alex Lyon Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen Colten Ellis Injuries Justin Danforth (lower body, Oct. 18; injured reserve) Jiri Kulich (blood clot, Nov. 4; injured reserve - out for the season) Sam Carrick (upper body, Mar. 31; injured reserve) Noah Ostlund (upper body, Mar.25; day-to-day( Notes Buffalo would clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2010-11 with a win tonight or a regulation loss by Detroit. Buffalo could also clinch a playoff spot by earning a point in tonight’s game against Washington and a regulation loss by Ottawa against Minnesota or a Rangers win of any kind against Detroit. The Sabres have earned at least one point in 23 of their last 28 contests (20-5-3), including a league-best 14 wins and 30 points since the Olympic break. Since Dec. 9, the Sabres rank first among all NHL teams in wins (35) and points (74). Buffalo’s 30 regulation wins in that span also lead the league. Buffalo has not lost consecutive games in regulation since the team fell in three straight from Dec. 3 at Philadelphia to Dec. 8 at Calgary. Tage Thompson has tallied 55 points (25+30) in 47 games since Dec. 9 and his 22 even-strength goals in that span rank tied for third among all NHL skaters. Thompson has registered six points (2+4) in his last five games. Thompson needs seven more goals to pass Jason Pominville (217 goals with Buffalo) and gain sole possession of 10th place on Buffalo’s all-time goal-scoring list. Rasmus Dahlin ranks first among all Sabres skaters in assists (32) and second in points (47) since Dec. 9. His 15 goals in that span rank tied for second among all NHL defensemen. Tonight’s game marks the 582nd of Dahlin’s career, tied with Jay McKee for the seventh-most by a defenseman in franchise history. Peyton Krebs has posted a point in four consecutive games (2+2) and he would match the longest point streak of his career (five games; March 25 to April 1, 2025; 3+3) with a point tonight. Jack Quinn has posted three points (1+2) in his last three games. Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo [https://twitter.com/MikeInBuffalo] THN.com/Free [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bc068d37-13af-4674-a2d3-589038fbe152.jpeg] THN.com/Free
