BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabres skated into the midway point of their frustrating season Monday night with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday night at KeyBank Center. Beating the team atop the Eastern Conference to snap a three-game skid, the Sabres remained at the bottom of the standings with 35 points (15-21-5) in 41 games. But still only six points out of a playoff spot. Some takeaways from Buffalo's win and it's significance going forward the second half of the season: Second effort JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch, now skating together on the second line, scored in the shootout and factored on each of the regulation goals in a game in which the Sabres never trailed. Tuch redirected Peterka's shot to give Buffalo the lead early in the first period and scored again on a breakaway while playing 4-on-4 in the second. Peterka had another assist on Tage Thompson's power-play goal later in the second, and had five shots on goal in a season-high 23:37 of ice time. "He was possessing the puck, was making some really good plays," Tuch said. "It was really good to play with him tonight. I thought our chemistry was really good and we had some open looks and we’re going to continue to try to build off that.” The line centered by Ryan McLeod had a 12-8 advantage in shot attempts and 7-2 in scoring chances, according to NaturalStatTrick. Finishing touch Aliaksei Protas scored the tying goal for the Capitals with 4:13 left in the third. Yet the Sabres kept their composure to improve to 11-2-2, and 7-2-1 at home when leading at the second intermission. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 12 of his 25 saves in the third period and overtime, including one on an Alex Ovechkin breakaway. UPL then stopped the final three attempts he faced in the shootout. The Sabres out-shot the Caps 5-3 in overtime, and Jason Zucker nearly scored the winner on a breakaway. After Thompson and Jack Quinn were stopped in the shootout, Tuch deked out Charlie Lindgren, and Peterka scored on a wrister in the fourth round. “Unbelievable goal by Tuchy to get us through the first three,” coach Lindy Ruff said. “And then our goaltender closed the door, and JJ, heck of a shot to win it for us.” Playoff chase The Sabres are now 4-2-1 since ending their 13-game winless skid. Maintain that pace the rest of the way, and the Sabres would finish with about 88 points. That might not be enough to make the playoffs. But it could be close. “It should drive all of us to know you’re that close,” Ruff said. “When you go through what we went through, we should come out of this a better team. Everybody should come out as a better player and understand how hard it is to win games, and sometimes how easy it is to lose them. “We’re fortunate that, the way everything has unfolded, we’re within striking distance with (41) games left.” Up next Buffalo visits the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night before returning home to face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. *** Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.