Sabres 5, Capitals 1
SABRES 5, CAPITALS 1: Drew Stafford scored a pair of goals as visiting Buffalo extended its winning streak to five games and took over sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Ryan Miller turned aside a season-high 44 shots to win his fifth straight start as the Sabres moved two points ahead of Washington and closed within two of seventh-place Ottawa with five games to play.
Cody McCormick, Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville also scored goals as Buffalo improved to 8-0-2 in its last 10 and snapped a five-game losing streak in Washington.
Buffalo jumped out to a 3-0 lead, chasing Capitals netminder Braden Holtby 2 1/2 minutes into the second period in dealing Washington its fifth loss in seven games (2-3-2).
McCormick's first goal of the season and Stafford's first of the game staked the Sabres to a 2-0 lead after the opening period.
After Vanek ended Holtby's night early in the second, Alexander Semin gave Washington some hope when he whistled a wrister past Miller at the five-minute mark.
But Pominville restored the momentum and three-goal lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in the second, stealing the puck from Alex Ovechkin at the point and scoring a shorthanded tally for a 4-1 lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Buffalo won the season series 3-1. ... The Capitals got good news Tuesday when center Nicklas Backstrom passes his baseline concussion test with "flying colors." Backstrom, who could be back in the lineup by the weekend, has been sidelined since Jan. 3. He led Washington in scoring at the time of injury. ... McCormick was the 30th different player to score for the Sabres this season, tying a franchise record last set in 1991-92. ... Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff suffered a lower-body injury in the opening period and did not return.