Takeaways: Capitals Let Critical Game Get Away From Them, Fall To Sabres In Ugly 6-2 Loss

The Washington Capitals were looking for two critical points in Buffalo with the regular season winding down and the standings tight. But things went off the rails — and fast — in an ugly loss.

Washington couldn't get much going offensively and ultimately fell 6-2.

Here are the takeaways from the defeat, which keeps D.C. tied for the second Wild Card spot.

After Martin Fehervary's early go-ahead goal, the Capitals let the Sabres take over the game.

Buffalo dominated in shots and spent a lot of time in the offensive zone, with Washington allowing too much time and space to work with.

By the end of the second, D.C. was being outshot 25-12. Then, in the final 20 minutes, the game slipped out of reach quickly.

Rasmus Dahlin got his second, and then Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch scored within 2:30 of each other en route to a 6-2 win. Charlie Lindgren was pulled, and Darcy Kuemper relieved him and stopped all four shots against.

However, it didn't fall on Lindgren; the Capitals gave the puck away and made several mistakes that led to quick goals, resulting in the loss, and the team also failed to cover dangerous areas.

It was a game that D.C. let get out of control from the get-go, and though the third after the flurry of goals showed potential, it was too little, too late.

The man advantage stayed hot for D.C., as Dylan Strome struck to make it a 3-2 game in the second. It marked his 26th goal of the season, and Washington has power-play goals now in 15 of the last 19 games.