The Capitals have nine games left on the regular season circuit, and they'll have to make each one count.
For the Washington Capitals, every game left on the regular season circuit carries the utmost importance. And that's the case again on Tuesday as they take on the Buffalo Sabres.
Washington didn't get much help from the out-of-town scoreboard on Monday, as the Philadelphia Flyers reclaimed third in the Metropolitan Division with an overtime loss, while the Detroit Red Wings also defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to tie D.C. for the second Wild Card spot.
While the Capitals own the tiebreaker, it's still too close for comfort, and two points against Buffalo, who is clawing and scratching to keep its season alive, could make all the difference.
Right now, Washington has a 67.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, per MoneyPuck, but Philadelphia is right behind at 63.1 percent. Detroit has a 40.5 percent chance as of Tuesday morning.
Washington's upcoming schedule features a handful of more matchups with teams still fighting for their lives, including the Flyers and Red Wings. There are also a handful of games against top opponents, including another meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins.
The Capitals have nine games left on the circuit, starting with Tuesday's tilt with the Sabres. With games in hand, they control their own destiny going forward, as Washington. can collect the most possible points out of the remaining playoff hopefuls.
"I think now at this point in the year, we've talked about it enough to where guys really understand A, where we're at and how much each game means but B, also not to be caught off guard by the opposition's intensity or the requirements that we have to get to of our standard. And if that slips even an inch, we're gonna be in trouble," head coach Spencer Carbery said on Monday, adding, "I don't think it's gonna be much different (in Buffalo) against a really good team that can do a bunch of different things to you from an off-the-rush transition standpoint where they can make you look silly."