WSH 6–2 BUF Final · W
Capitals/Schedule/Recap Sat, Apr 4, 2026 · 2025-26 regular season
Washington Capitals
WSH · 39-29-9
6–2
FinalW
Buffalo Sabres
BUF · 46-23-8
1ST2ND3RDT WSH 31117210628 BUF 213015011239 goals · shots on goal
Meeting 3 this season — the Capitals lead the season series 2–1
WSH 39-29-9 · BUF 46-23-8 · Meeting 3 this season — the Capitals lead the season series 2–1

Capitals beat the Sabres

Chances were even (3.5 to 3.1 expected goals); the Capitals won 6–2. Alex Lyon allowed 2.2 more goals than expected from the shots he faced.

Who had the better chances

Chances were close: 3.5 expected goals to 3.1, on 28 and 39 shots on goal.

WSH 3.5 xG · 28 shots BUF 3.1 xG · 39 shots
0
1
2
3
4
1st 2.0 · 0.9
2nd · the swing 0.4 · 1.6
3rd 1.1 · 0.6
Tap a numbered goal to see how it happened.
Deserve to winReplay this game 100 times with average goalies and the Capitals win 57.
WSH 57%BUF 43%

Goals and penalties

8 goals · 9 penalties
← Capitals shoot this way Sabres shoot this way →
On net Missed Bigger = better chance 1Goal, numbered to the list
1st period
1
03:15 Jakob Chychrun
Alex Ovechkin, Pierre-Luc Dubois · snap shot on a rebound, a good chance (22%)
1–0
2
03:35 Dylan Strome
Aliaksei Protas, Alex Ovechkin · tip in shot, a great chance (32%)
2–0
3
05:52 Connor McMichael GWG
Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois · snap shot, a great chance (27%)
3–0
4
06:30 Rasmus Dahlin
Josh Norris, Alex Tuch · snap shot, a good chance (13%)
3–1
5
12:15 Beck Malenstyn
Jordan Greenway, Rasmus Dahlin · snap shot, a good chance (16%)
3–2
2nd period
PEN
04:21 Zach Benson· Interference
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
05:08 Ryan Leonard· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
6
06:06 Aliaksei Protas
Unassisted · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (10%) that found a way in
4–2
PEN
10:58 Dylan Strome· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
12:22 Connor McMichael· Tripping
Killed
2 min
Minor
PEN
19:42 Mattias Samuelsson· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
3rd period
PEN
03:13 Trevor van Riemsdyk· Holding
Killed
2 min
Minor
7
06:26 Ryan Leonard
Cole Hutson, Justin Sourdif · snap shot, a low-percentage shot (3%) that found a way in
5–2
PEN
08:32 Cole Hutson· Hooking
Killed
2 min
Minor
8
08:55 Tom Wilson SH
Connor McMichael · backhand shot, a good chance (13%)
6–2
PEN
17:15 Martin Fehérváry· Misconduct
10 min
Misconduct
PEN
17:15 Zach Benson· Misconduct
10 min
Misconduct
Goaltending
+0.8
vs expected
37/39 saves · 2 GA · 2.8 xGA Stopped 0.8 more goals than an average goalie would have.
−1.1
vs expected
20/23 saves · 3 GA · 1.9 xGA Allowed 1.1 more goals than expected from the shots he faced.
Team WSHBUF
Shots on goal
28
39
Expected goals
3.5
3.1
Hits
0
0
Blocks
0
0
Faceoffs
48%
52%
Power play
0/2
0/5
Penalty minutes
0
0
The Capitals went 0-for-2 on the power play and killed all 5 Sabres power plays.