Byram, Sabres edge Capitals in shootout

BUFFALO -- Bowen Byram scored the lone goal in the shootout to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

He skated down the left side before cutting to the middle and beating Charlie Lindgren high short side from the left hashmarks in the fifth round of the shootout.

“Not really used to shooting against the opposite-handed goalie,” said Byram, who scored on his first career NHL shootout attempt. “Usually I come in the other way, but because he was an opposite catcher I tried coming that way and I was just going to try to, you know, shoot one way or the other, so I felt I had a little room there.”

Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch scored, and Isak Rosen scored his first NHL goal for the Sabres (5-4-3), who ended a three-game losing streak (0-0-3). Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 31 saves and stopped all five shooters in the shootout.

“I thought [Luukkonen] was really dialed in,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “He just looked comfortable. Made some great saves and coming off camp, the only little bit of playing time in the one game, probably didn't really know what to expect. But I thought he got in a pretty good rhythm.”

Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas and Sonny Milano scored, and Lindgren made 21 saves for the Capitals (6-5-1), who have lost four straight (0-3-1).

“I still think we’re trying to find ourselves a little bit,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I know the record was what it was early on, but I’m not fooled by that. We’re still trying to find our identity; some guys are trying to get into a rhythm with their seasons. It’s not a secret, we have a lot of guys that are struggling right now, but they’re trying to fight their way through it, so that’s what I take from this game. You’re going to have to find a way to grind out points and take steps in the right direction. I thought tonight was one.”

Strome, back in the lineup after missing two games with a lower-body injury, gave Washington a 1-0 lead at 1:07 of the first period when he snapped a rebound from the slot past Luukkonen glove side.

“Pretty good. Felt good with the puck, making some plays,” Strome said. “Ultimately would have liked to capitalize on a few more chances but, like I said about the whole team, just kind of a step in the right direction, and for myself, too, just nice to be back out there with the guys playing.”

Protas finished off a give-and-go down low on a 2-on-0, receiving a return pass from Connor McMichael and lifting it over Luukkonen’s left pad to make it 2-0 at 2:15.

Thompson scored 15 seconds later to cut it to 2-1. Jason Zucker won a battle behind the net against Martin Fehervary and sent the puck to Thompson, who one-timed a snap shot from the slot at 2:30.

Tuch tied it 2-2 at 10:02. With John Carlson draped on his back, Tuch took a backhand feed from Josh Doan in the slot and snuck it over Lindgren’s left pad.

Rosen received a pass from Jack Quinn in the right circle and beat Lindgren with a wrist shot blocker side to put the Sabres ahead 3-2 at 18:45.

“Just a great play by ‘Quinner,’ great pass,” said Rosen, who played in his 16th NHL game. “Yeah, just finally went in. Really good feeling, of course, probably the best feeling ever, to be honest. It was great.”

NOTES: Buffalo has points in six straight games (3-0-3) and eight of its past nine (5-1-3). ... The Capitals and Sabres combined for three goals in the opening 2:30, marking the fastest three goals by two teams to start a game this season, ahead of the Blues and Penguins (4:15 on Oct. 27). … Carlson played in his 1,100th NHL game. He is the first defenseman and third player in Capitals history to play as many games with the team and is the 75th defenseman in NHL history to reach the milestone. … Pierre-Luc Dubois did not travel with the team. Carbery said before the game the center is day to day. … Luukkonen is the third goalie in Sabres history and first since Jhonas Enroth in 2014 to face at least five shootout attempts and not allow a goal. … Tuch extended his point streak to three games (two goals, three assists). He has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games. … Buffalo is 7-1-4 in its past 12 games against Washington.