Buffalo SabresBUF 2–6 Final Washington CapitalsWSH

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Final 1st2nd3rd T SOG
Buffalo SabresBUF 200 2 39
Washington CapitalsWSH 312 6 28
Playoff odds, % Change
WSH +5.6
BUF +0.0
NYI -1.3
CBJ -1.2
PHI -1.1
PIT -0.8
OTT -0.7

How the result moved each team's playoff odds, calculated Apr 4, 2026 6:18 PM EDT.

Highlights

Scoring

1st Period
3:15 WSH Jakob Chychrun (25) Alex Ovechkin (29), Pierre-Luc Dubois (11) · snap xG 0.19 0–1 ▶
3:35 WSH Dylan Strome (18) Aliaksei Protas (25), Alex Ovechkin (30) · tip-in xG 0.10 0–2 ▶
5:52 WSH Connor McMichael (11) Jakob Chychrun (34), Pierre-Luc Dubois (12) · snap xG 0.24 0–3 ▶
6:30 BUF Rasmus Dahlin (18) Josh Norris (18), Alex Tuch (32) · snap xG 0.16 1–3 ▶
12:15 BUF Beck Malenstyn (7) Jordan Greenway (5), Rasmus Dahlin (51) · snap xG 0.42 2–3 ▶
2nd Period
6:06 WSH Aliaksei Protas (24) Unassisted · snap xG 0.10 2–4 ▶
3rd Period
6:26 WSH Ryan Leonard (17) Cole Hutson (5), Justin Sourdif (18) · snap xG 0.04 2–5 ▶
8:55 WSH Tom Wilson (29)SH Connor McMichael (30) · backhand xG 0.22 2–6 ▶

Score away–home after each goal; season totals in parentheses.

Shot quality

Expected goals (xG) rate every unblocked shot by how often shots like it go in, from where it was taken, the shot type, the strength and what happened just before it. How it works

BUF 63%Deserve to win37% WSH
BUFWSH
3.67Expected goals2.87
2Goals (no shootout)6
2.74Expected goals, 5 on 52.21
61Shot attempts55
48Unblocked attempts45
39Shots on goal28

Game notes

What stood out as the game went on, from the play-by-play and the shifts. Time on the bench is counted in 5-on-5 play outside the penalty box; the note says the player sat, not why. Goals saved are against the shots' expected goals (xG).

1st Period
5:52 BUF Goalie Goalie · Lyon −2.2 goals saved
3 goals on 0.84 xG, 5 shots on goal
5:52 BUF Goalie change Goalie change · Ellis in for Lyon
5:52 of the 1st; Lyon had allowed 3 goals on 5 shots (0.84 xG)
2nd Period
9:11 BUF Deserve to win Deserve to win · BUF takes the lead, 68–32%
WSH had led since 3:35 of the 1st, by as much as 72%
9:20 BUF xG swing xG swing · Out-chanced WSH 1.36–0.33
In xG over 10 minutes, 19:20 of the 1st to 9:20 of the 2nd; goals 0–1

Shot map

BUF shoots ←Bigger circle: higher xG; filled: goal→ WSH shoots
Alex Ovechkin: snap, 46 ft, xG 0.02 (P1 0:34) Jack Quinn: backhand, 23 ft, xG 0.07 (P1 1:00) Logan Stanley: slap, 67 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 1:48) Tage Thompson: snap, 32 ft, xG 0.10 (P1 2:47) Alex Ovechkin: wrist, 14 ft, xG 0.17 (P1 3:13) Alex Tuch: snap, 44 ft, xG 0.02 (P1 4:16) Mattias Samuelsson: snap, 60 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 4:26) Rasmus Sandin: snap, 57 ft, xG 0.02 (P1 5:15) Rasmus Sandin: snap, 25 ft, xG 0.04 (P1 5:24) Jakob Chychrun: snap, 38 ft, xG 0.06 (P1 5:50) Mattias Samuelsson: wrist, 154 ft, xG 0.00 (P1 6:09) Matt Roy: snap, 63 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 7:06) Ethen Frank: tip-in, 33 ft, xG 0.03 (P1 7:11) Connor McMichael: snap, 34 ft, xG 0.09 (P1 7:44) Logan Stanley: snap, 69 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 8:26) Josh Norris: wrist, 28 ft, xG 0.03 (P1 8:36) Zach Benson: snap, 24 ft, xG 0.04 (P1 9:56) Zach Benson: snap, 13 ft, xG 0.09 (P1 10:26) Tom Wilson: tip-in, 7 ft, xG 0.11 (P1 11:19) Ryan Leonard: snap, 46 ft, xG 0.02 (P1 11:41) Jakob Chychrun: snap, 65 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 14:16) Jack Quinn: snap, 36 ft, xG 0.04 (P1 14:48) Zach Metsa: snap, 61 ft, xG 0.02 (P1 14:55) Aliaksei Protas: snap, 34 ft, xG 0.07 (P1 15:05) Alex Ovechkin: snap, 37 ft, xG 0.01 (P1 15:08) Pierre-Luc Dubois: snap, 41 ft, xG 0.03 (P1 16:05) Alex Ovechkin: tip-in, 15 ft, xG 0.04 (P1 17:16) Jack Quinn: snap, 29 ft, xG 0.09 (P1 18:22) Alex Ovechkin: tip-in, 13 ft, xG 0.09 (P1 19:53) Pierre-Luc Dubois: snap, 45 ft, xG 0.01 (P2 0:53) Jack Quinn: wrist, 17 ft, xG 0.13 (P2 1:16) Jack Quinn: tip-in, 6 ft, xG 0.10 (P2 1:42) Rasmus Sandin: snap, 46 ft, xG 0.00 (P2 2:35) Brandon Duhaime: snap, 35 ft, xG 0.05 (P2 2:59) Rasmus Sandin: snap, 55 ft, xG 0.01 (P2 3:10) Jakob Chychrun: snap, 54 ft, xG 0.02 (P2 3:56) Aliaksei Protas: backhand, 16 ft, xG 0.04 (P2 5:47) Josh Norris: slap, 32 ft, xG 0.10 (P2 6:39) Tage Thompson: wrist, 7 ft, xG 0.03 (P2 6:40) Josh Norris: slap, 41 ft, xG 0.08 (P2 6:58) Jason Zucker: tip-in, 15 ft, xG 0.08 (P2 7:07) Jason Zucker: slap, 31 ft, xG 0.06 (P2 7:34) Peyton Krebs: snap, 28 ft, xG 0.09 (P2 7:57) Alex Tuch: snap, 63 ft, xG 0.01 (P2 8:04) Peyton Krebs: deflected, 7 ft, xG 0.12 (P2 9:08) Tage Thompson: wrist, 5 ft, xG 0.54 (P2 9:11) Connor McMichael: snap, 35 ft, xG 0.08 (P2 9:25) Cole Hutson: snap, 55 ft, xG 0.01 (P2 10:06) Alex Ovechkin: snap, 65 ft, xG 0.02 (P2 10:57) Jack Quinn: snap, 31 ft, xG 0.06 (P2 11:01) Josh Norris: snap, 14 ft, xG 0.05 (P2 11:02) Anthony Beauvillier: snap, 152 ft, xG 0.00 (P2 11:17) Zach Benson: snap, 20 ft, xG 0.16 (P2 12:12) Josh Norris: snap, 20 ft, xG 0.18 (P2 12:31) Tage Thompson: slap, 24 ft, xG 0.11 (P2 13:46) Alex Tuch: backhand, 18 ft, xG 0.04 (P2 14:22) Connor McMichael: backhand, 9 ft, xG 0.04 (P2 14:29) Peyton Krebs: wrist, 39 ft, xG 0.01 (P2 16:20) Tage Thompson: snap, 48 ft, xG 0.03 (P2 16:52) Jack Quinn: snap, 45 ft, xG 0.02 (P2 18:16) Justin Sourdif: tip-in, 39 ft, xG 0.03 (P2 19:12) Alex Ovechkin: slap, 35 ft, xG 0.10 (P3 1:26) Connor McMichael: snap, 9 ft, xG 0.19 (P3 1:34) Cole Hutson: snap, 42 ft, xG 0.01 (P3 1:48) Connor McMichael: deflected, 5 ft, xG 0.05 (P3 1:49) Dylan Strome: snap, 92 ft, xG 0.00 (P3 2:18) Beck Malenstyn: snap, 50 ft, xG 0.03 (P3 5:17) Jordan Greenway: backhand, 28 ft, xG 0.01 (P3 5:31) Aliaksei Protas: snap, 32 ft, xG 0.03 (P3 7:41) Rasmus Dahlin: snap, 16 ft, xG 0.08 (P3 10:23) Beck Malenstyn: backhand, 13 ft, xG 0.10 (P3 11:31) Alex Tuch: snap, 26 ft, xG 0.17 (P3 11:38) Alex Tuch: wrist, 23 ft, xG 0.02 (P3 11:57) Josh Doan: backhand, 5 ft, xG 0.04 (P3 11:58) Owen Power: snap, 50 ft, xG 0.01 (P3 12:47) Owen Power: snap, 43 ft, xG 0.04 (P3 12:53) Dylan Strome: snap, 36 ft, xG 0.08 (P3 13:56) Rasmus Dahlin: slap, 53 ft, xG 0.02 (P3 15:10) Jason Zucker: snap, 41 ft, xG 0.02 (P3 15:35) Tage Thompson: slap, 36 ft, xG 0.02 (P3 15:41) Dylan Strome: snap, 34 ft, xG 0.07 (P3 16:04) Dylan Strome: snap, 16 ft, xG 0.20 (P3 18:34) Alex Ovechkin: snap, 36 ft, xG 0.06 (P3 18:50) Justin Sourdif: tip-in, 8 ft, xG 0.05 (P3 19:21) Logan Stanley: slap, 54 ft, xG 0.01 (P3 19:55) Jakob Chychrun: GOAL, snap, 24 ft, xG 0.19 (P1 3:15) Dylan Strome: GOAL, tip-in, 11 ft, xG 0.10 (P1 3:35) Connor McMichael: GOAL, snap, 11 ft, xG 0.24 (P1 5:52) Rasmus Dahlin: GOAL, snap, 29 ft, xG 0.16 (P1 6:30) Beck Malenstyn: GOAL, snap, 8 ft, xG 0.42 (P1 12:15) Aliaksei Protas: GOAL, snap, 31 ft, xG 0.10 (P2 6:06) Ryan Leonard: GOAL, snap, 43 ft, xG 0.04 (P3 6:26) Tom Wilson: GOAL, backhand, 12 ft, xG 0.22 (P3 8:55)
About these numbers

xG comes from hockeystats.io's own model, a gradient-boosted tree model trained on every unblocked shot from the 2021-22 to 2025-26 regular seasons using the NHL's public play-by-play. Each shot's value is the share of similar shots that became goals. A team's xG is the sum over its shots; "deserve to win" asks how often the team would outscore its opponent if every shot went in at exactly that rate. Blocked shots count as attempts but have no xG (the NHL records where they were blocked, not where they were taken), so the map leaves them out.

Box score

Buffalo Sabres

Skater GAP+/− AttxG HitBlkTOI
Forwards
72 Tage Thompson 000 -3 80.83 1119:20
22 Jack Quinn 000 -3 80.51 0018:27
17 Jason Zucker 000 -1 40.16 1018:20
71 Ryan McLeod 000 -3 00.00 0016:53
89 Alex Tuch 011 +1 50.26 0216:20
9 Josh Norris 011 0 50.44 1115:48
6 Zach Benson 000 -2 30.29 0115:20
12 Jordan Greenway 011 0 10.01 1013:32
91 Josh Doan 000 -3 20.04 1012:57
29 Beck Malenstyn 101 +1 40.54 4012:27
48 Tyson Kozak 000 +1 00.00 3012:15
19 Peyton Krebs 000 0 30.22 3012:05
Defense
26 Rasmus Dahlin 112 +1 60.26 1022:28
24 Bowen Byram 000 -3 10.00 1020:59
25 Owen Power 000 -2 40.05 0020:22
23 Mattias Samuelsson 000 +2 30.01 0219:54
73 Zach Metsa 000 -3 10.02 0115:15
8 Logan Stanley 000 -2 30.02 0013:18
Goalie SAGA SVSV% xGA GSAx
Alex Lyon 532 .400 0.84 -2.16
Colten Ellis 23320 .870 2.03 -0.97

Washington Capitals

Skater GAP+/− AttxG HitBlkTOI
Forwards
43 Tom Wilson 101 +2 20.32 1017:19
8 Alex Ovechkin 022 +1 90.51 1017:01
17 Dylan Strome 101 +2 60.45 0116:38
21 Aliaksei Protas 112 +1 40.24 0116:15
77 Connor McMichael 112 +3 60.68 1216:03
72 Anthony Beauvillier 000 0 20.00 0015:44
34 Justin Sourdif 011 +1 30.08 0015:25
80 Pierre-Luc Dubois 022 +2 20.05 0012:58
9 Ryan Leonard 101 +1 40.06 2012:55
24 Brandon Duhaime 000 -1 20.05 1011:43
22 Hendrix Lapierre 000 -1 00.00 1011:05
53 Ethen Frank 000 -1 10.03 0009:34
Defense
42 Martin Fehérváry 000 +2 00.00 0321:10
3 Matt Roy 000 +2 10.01 3120:56
38 Rasmus Sandin 000 0 40.08 2220:25
6 Jakob Chychrun 112 +1 70.28 1019:40
44 Cole Hutson 011 +2 20.02 0018:58
57 Trevor van Riemsdyk 000 +1 00.00 1016:11
Goalie SAGA SVSV% xGA GSAx
Logan Thompson 39237 .949 3.67 +1.67

Skaters by time on ice. Goalie lines count shots with the goalie in net, from the NHL play-by-play.

Player ratings

What each player added to the result, in goals, from most to least. Hover a number for what it's made of.

Buffalo Sabres

Player Rating Points Shots On ice Pen FO Other GSAx TOI
26 Rasmus Dahlin D +2.97 +1.30 +0.17 +1.52 0.00 0.00 -0.02 — 22:28
29 Beck Malenstyn L +1.59 +0.75 +0.35 +0.51 0.00 0.00 -0.02 — 12:27
89 Alex Tuch R +1.51 +0.55 +0.17 +0.73 0.00 -0.02 +0.08 — 16:20
23 Mattias Samuelsson D +1.45 0.00 +0.01 +1.49 -0.15 0.00 +0.10 — 19:54
9 Josh Norris C +1.20 +0.70 +0.28 +0.11 0.00 +0.03 +0.07 — 15:48
19 Peyton Krebs C +1.14 0.00 +0.14 +1.02 0.00 -0.02 0.00 — 12:05
12 Jordan Greenway L +0.47 +0.70 0.00 -0.22 0.00 -0.01 0.00 — 13:32
48 Tyson Kozak C +0.41 0.00 0.00 +0.44 0.00 -0.03 0.00 — 12:15
22 Jack Quinn R +0.32 0.00 +0.33 -0.10 +0.15 0.00 -0.06 — 18:27
17 Jason Zucker L +0.15 0.00 +0.10 +0.04 0.00 +0.01 0.00 — 18:20
72 Tage Thompson C +0.10 0.00 +0.54 -0.48 0.00 +0.01 +0.03 — 19:20
64 Logan Stanley D +0.02 0.00 +0.01 +0.05 0.00 0.00 -0.04 — 13:18
6 Zach Benson L +0.01 0.00 +0.19 -0.38 +0.15 0.00 +0.05 — 15:20
91 Josh Doan R -0.18 0.00 +0.03 -0.35 +0.15 0.00 0.00 — 12:57
71 Ryan McLeod C -0.37 0.00 0.00 -0.40 0.00 +0.05 -0.02 — 16:53
73 Zach Metsa D -0.54 0.00 +0.01 -0.75 +0.15 0.00 +0.05 — 15:15
25 Owen Power D -0.88 0.00 +0.03 -0.87 0.00 0.00 -0.04 — 20:22
92 Colten Ellis G -0.97 0.00 — — 0.00 — — -0.97 54:08
4 Bowen Byram D -1.00 0.00 0.00 -0.94 0.00 0.00 -0.06 — 20:59
34 Alex Lyon G -2.16 0.00 — — 0.00 — — -2.16 5:52

Washington Capitals

Player Rating Points Shots On ice Pen FO Other GSAx TOI
80 Pierre-Luc Dubois C +2.45 +1.10 +0.03 +1.16 +0.15 +0.01 0.00 — 12:58
24 Connor McMichael L +2.31 +1.45 +0.44 +0.50 -0.15 -0.01 +0.08 — 16:03
8 Alex Ovechkin L +2.06 +1.25 +0.33 +0.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 — 17:01
48 Logan Thompson G +1.67 0.00 — — 0.00 — — +1.67 60:00
6 Jakob Chychrun D +1.49 +1.45 +0.18 -0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 — 19:40
17 Dylan Strome C +1.05 +0.75 +0.29 +0.12 -0.15 -0.02 +0.05 — 16:38
21 Aliaksei Protas L +0.99 +1.45 +0.16 -0.64 0.00 -0.02 +0.05 — 16:15
43 Tom Wilson R +0.98 +0.75 +0.21 -0.14 +0.15 0.00 0.00 — 17:19
9 Ryan Leonard R +0.59 +0.75 +0.04 -0.03 -0.15 0.00 -0.02 — 12:55
44 Cole Hutson D +0.42 +0.70 +0.01 -0.16 -0.15 0.00 +0.02 — 18:58
34 Justin Sourdif C +0.41 +0.55 +0.05 -0.22 0.00 +0.05 -0.02 — 15:25
38 Rasmus Sandin D +0.24 0.00 +0.05 +0.15 0.00 0.00 +0.04 — 20:25
3 Matt Roy D +0.01 0.00 +0.01 -0.05 0.00 0.00 +0.05 — 20:56
57 Trevor van Riemsdyk D -0.16 0.00 0.00 +0.01 -0.15 0.00 -0.02 — 16:11
72 Anthony Beauvillier R -0.22 0.00 0.00 -0.18 0.00 -0.04 0.00 — 15:44
42 Martin Fehérváry D -0.34 0.00 0.00 -0.47 0.00 0.00 +0.13 — 21:10
53 Ethen Frank R -0.52 0.00 +0.02 -0.59 0.00 0.00 +0.05 — 9:34
22 Brandon Duhaime L -0.56 0.00 +0.03 -0.57 0.00 0.00 -0.02 — 11:43
29 Hendrix Lapierre C -0.59 0.00 0.00 -0.60 0.00 +0.01 0.00 — 11:05

An expected-goals take on Dom Luszczyszyn's Game Score: goals and assists, the quality of a player's own shots, shot quality for and against while they were on the ice at 5v5, penalties, faceoffs and puck plays, all in goals; goalies by goals saved above expected. From the NHL play-by-play and shift charts.