Alex Tuch scored twice, JJ Peterka had the deciding goal in the shootout and the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 on on Monday night.

The Capitals beat the Sabres 4-2 on Dec. 14 at Capital One Arena. Zucker opened the scoring 1:36 into the game. Washington forward Dylan Strome, who currently leads with the team with 44 points (12+32), broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period.

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There's still a long way to go to make up for the 13-game losing streak, but at long last the Sabres are trending in the right direction.

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 ...

Just two days after losing to the NHL’s No. 1 team, the Vegas Golden Knights, in Las Vegas, the Buffalo Sabres are back home to play the No. 2 team in the league, the Washington Capitals. Paul Hamilto

The Capitals have been playing well, with a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games. They'll visit the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Monday night.

The Buffalo Sabres have needed center Ryan McLeod to step up after Jiri Kulich suffered a lower-body injury and is out week-to-week. McLeod has done just that in the last two games with his overall play.

BUFFALO -- Alex Tuch scored twice for the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-3 shootout win against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center on Monday. JJ Peterka, who had two assists, scored the deciding goal in the shootout.

The Capitals will stick with their shaken-up lines from Saturday, with Taylor Raddysh playing on the top line and Connor McMichael centering the third line. Charlie Lindgren will start.

Peterka's 23:37 of ice time was the most that he's played in his 200 NHL games. The winger totaled five shots on goal with eight shot attempts, and he had two assists.