BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Capitals host the Buffalo Sabres in Eastern Conference play. Washington has a 38-29-9 record overall and a 23-11-5 record on its home ice. The Capitals have gone 33-9-3 when scoring at least three goals.

The Buffalo Sabres edged the Tampa Bay Lightning, 8-7, in a slugfest that saw the teams earn more than 100 penalty minutes in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup.

After 15 years of futility during which the Sabres finished last in the NHL three times and never better than the bottom third, Buffalo broke its playoff drought with the

Monday marked first time the Sabres have won the division in its current setup. Their last division title was the Northeast in 2009-10.

With the Buffalo Sabres locking up the Atlantic Division, the Montreal Canadiens face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opening round of the playoffs. It’s a matchup filled with storylines, youth versus experience,