Jakob Chychrun scored the go-ahead goal with 1:33 left in the third period and the Washington Capitals ended the Sabres’ eight-game winning streak with a 2-1 win Thursday night in Buffalo.
Aliaksei Protas controlled a loose puck behind the Sabres net and passed out to Chychrun, who scored his 23rd goal of the season on a wrist shot from the right face-off dot. It was Protas’ 100th career assist.
Ryan Leonard scored in his third straight game for the Capitals, who have won two of three and were coming off a 4-1 loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.
Charlie Lindgren made 29 saves for Washington, which earned a much-needed two points as the Capitals work to remain in contention for an Eastern Conference wild card spot.
Sam Carrick scored for the Sabres, who had outscored opponents 36-20 during their winning streak and continue to lead the Atlantic Division. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves.
Each team went 0-for-2 on its power play.
Carrick gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 6:02 of the first period. Beck Malenstyn came out from behind the net into the left circle and sent a backhand feed across the crease to Carrick, who scored at the right post. It was Carrick’s second goal in four games with Buffalo since being acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers.
The Capitals were outshot 15-3 in the period and did not get their first shot on goal until almost the 10-minute mark. Lindgren made a series of saves on a Buffalo power play late in the period to keep the score 1-0.
Leonard tied the score at 2:14 of the second period, when he intercepted an errant pass at the Washington blue line, skated into the offensive zone and scored on a wrist shot from the right circle.
Luukkonen stopped Tom Wilson on a breakaway early in the third period.
