Buffalo is unable to hang on to 2 leads in the game and lose, 3-2, to Washington.
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had an excellent chance for a shot in overtime, but fanned on the puck as the Washington Capitals were able to capitalize on their opportunity for a 3-2 victory.
Ristolaninen was coming down the slot as Ryan O’Reilly made a pass from behind the net. Ristolainen attempted to one-time the puck, but it slipped by the heel of his stick and down the ice. Goalie Robin Lehner had to come out to the top of the circle to play the puck away from a charging Caps player.
Zemgus Girgensons gave Buffalo a 1-0 6 minutes into the first period off assists from Derek Grant and Ristolainen.
The Caps knotted the score 5:23 into the second stanza, but exactly 10 minutes later, Kyle Okposo put the Sabres back in front with his 8th goal of the season. O’Reilly and William Carrier drew assists on the play.
Washington once again evend the count 2-2 midway through the third period.
Lehner finished the game with 30 saves as Buffalo dropped to 9-10-6.
The Sabres recalled defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer from the Rochester Americans on Monday.
Burgdoerfer (27, 6-foot-1, 207 lbs.) joins the Sabres for the first time after signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 21, 2016. In 22 games for the Amerks this season, Burgdoerfer has seven assists and 24 penalty minutes. The Abington, PA., native has posted 35 points (7+28) and 145 penalty minutes in 157 career AHL games. He played in the game and had 3 hits. He also was on the ice for 1 of the Caps goals.
Greece native and team captain Brian Gionta had 2 shots on goal.
Buffalo plays at the KeyBank Center on Tuesday night at 7:05 pm against the Edmonton Oilers.