Takeaways: Capitals Escape With A Point, But Sloppy In Shootout Loss To Sabres

The Washington Capitals' start to action at KeyBank Center didn't go as planned against the Buffalo Sabres, as the team was trailing late. But the Capitals did what they've done best all season: stayed in the fight and found a way to escape with a point. Unfortunately, they didn't have enough to get the second one.

Tom Wilson struck twice and Aliaksei Protas, celebrating his 24th birthday, scored the game-tying goal, but things came down to a skills competition, where D.C. fell 4-3 in the shootout.

Here are all the takeaways from the defeat.

Capitals Find Game Late; Tom Wilson, Aliaksei Protas & Second Line Stays Hot As John Carlson Hits 700 Points

Through the first two periods of the game, the Capitals were making mistakes, struggling with their passes and failing to generate a lot of pressure in the offensive zone.

With the exception of two goals from Tom Wilson, one on the power play and one on a rebound at 5-on-5, the team struggled to solve a very sharp Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Wilson's two-goal game extended his scoring streak to three games, and he's now up to 18 goals on the season and on pace for 37 goals.

Then, in the third, Washington came to life. The Capitals were swarming Buffalo in the final frame, generating several high-quality chances in pursuit of the game-tying goal.

Finally, with 4:13 left in regulation, Pierre-Luc Dubois settled the puck at the blue line and fed John Carlson along the wall. Carlson then threw the puck to the front, where Aliaksei Protas redirected it past Luukkonen to make it 3-3.

It marked Protas' fourth goal in as many games and his second point of the night. With the secondary assist, Dubois extended his point streak to four games and now has points in nine of his last 10 overall.

Not to be outdone, Carlson's two assists gave him 700 career points, making him the 31st blueliner in NHL history to hit that mark.

Capitals Sloppy & Undisciplined Through First 40, Lindgren Put In Tough Spot

The Capitals didn't get off to the best start to action, and overall, looked sloppy on Monday in Buffalo.

On the first goal against, Charlie Lindgren was left heavily screened in front, leading to an easy goal for J.J. Peterka and an early 1-0 lead for Buffalo.

Then, in the second, a Jakob Chychrun giveaway led to a breakaway for Alex Tuch, who made no mistake and beat Lindgren.

Later in the frame, after Washington rallied to tie the game, Dylan Strome took a costly penalty that changed the momentum.

Then, the penalty kill faltered, falling for a fake Rasmus Sandin shot and leaving Tage Thompson wide open for a 103-mile-per-hour slam dunk.

With the shootout loss, where he surrendered two goals on four shots, has dropped five of his last six decisions, and though the numbers aren't great, they don't tell the whole story, and on Monday, it's hard to fault him too much.

He finished the night with 22 saves on 25 shots overall.

Capitals Fall To 0-2 In The Shootout

Though both teams had good chances in overtime, neither converted at 3-on-3, and the game went to the shootout for the second time in the last three games.

The Capitals got off to a good start in the skills competition, with Pierre-Luc Dubois scoring for D.C. to give the team a lead while Charlie Lindgren made impressive back-to-back stops on Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn.

However, things took a turn when Dylan Strome missed and Alex Tuch tied things up, and then, John Carlson missed his attempt while J.J. Peterka scored to give Buffalo the upper hand. Jakob Chychrun was next, and while he made a good move, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stayed with him, securing the shootout win for Buffalo.

While Washington escaped with a point, it was a costly game, and the team is now 0-2 in shootouts.

Top Shelf Takes

- Jakob Chychrun picked up an assist and has 20 points in his last 20 games, the most among the Capitals.

- Aliaksei Protas has points in three of his last four games.

- Dylan Strome extended his point streak to four games.

- The Capitals' power play has goals in seven of the last eight games.