The Washington Capitals did the Buffalo Sabres a huge favor by losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night, but if the ninth-place Sabres can't pull out two points from their matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday evening, it won't mean a thing.

The Sabres enter the evening two points back of the eighth-place Capitals, but Tuesday's game is a game in hand for Buffalo, so a victory would put them in a points tie with Washington through 80 games. The Capitals would still control their own destiny, since they've won more games than Buffalo in regulation or overtime, but with a points tie and two games remaining on the schedule, it would put Washington in a less-than-ideal situation.

Should the Sabres lose to the Leafs in regulation, the Capitals would have the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot and eliminate Buffalo with a win on Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

For more from the Capitals perspective, check in with Japers' Rink, and for more from the Sabres perspective, check in with Die By The Blade.