BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – Evander Kane had a goal and an assist, Chad Johsnon stopped 33 shots, and the Buffalo Sabres beat Washington 4-1 Saturday night to hand Capitals goalie Braden Holtby a rare loss.
Phil Varone, Tim Schaller and Cody Franson also scored for Buffalo, which snapped a six-game home losing streak and has now won three of four overall.
Marcus Johansson ruined Johnson’s shutout bid 2:54 into the third period with an unassisted goal.
The Sabres chased Holtby in the second period after he gave up three goals on 16 shots, emphatically ending his run of 23 games without a loss in regulation. Holtby was 20-0-2 since a Nov. 10 loss to Detroit. That stretch included a Capitals win over Tampa Bay on Dec. 18 in which he was pulled midway through the second period trailing 3-0.
The loss also snaps Washington’s five-game winning streak.