(Sports Network) - A pair of sliding clubs will try to get back in the win column tonight when the Washington Capitals welcome the Buffalo Sabres for a battle at Verizon Center.

The Capitals and Sabres have each lost three straight, although Buffalo's skid has done more damage as it has helped drop the club out of first place in the Northeast Division. Washington still holds a seven-point lead atop the Southeast.

Buffalo is 0-2-1 over its last three contests and was dealt a regulation setback Saturday in Ottawa. The Senators notched a 5-3 victory and Ottawa would later move past the Sabres for first place in the Northeast after beating Washington on Monday.

Daniel Alfredsson scored twice and added an assist as the Sens took down Buffalo at Scotiabank Place. Thomas Vanek, Patrick Kaleta and Jason Pominville got the goals for the Sabres, who have lost three games in a row for the first time this season.

Patrick Lalime got the start in net with Buffalo appearing in back-to-back games and was blitzed for all five scores on 26 shots. Ryan Miller will be back in net for the Sabres tonight after losing on Friday to Boston.

Sabres forward Drew Stafford is questionable for tonight after missing Saturday's game with a bruised hip.

Buffalo, which is 5-3-0 as the guest this year, is playing the middle test of a three-game road trip tonight. The Sabres will complete the swing Friday in Philadelphia.

The Capitals, meanwhile, are 0-1-2 on their losing streak and have lost their last two outings after regulation. Washington was dealt a shootout loss Saturday in Toronto and then dropped an overtime decision Monday at Ottawa. Mike Fisher's redirection goal 1:14 into overtime lifted the Senators to the 4-3 victory at Scotiabank Place.

Chris Clark, Brendan Morrison and Jay Beagle tallied for Washington, while Semyon Varlamov turned aside 33 shots in the losing effort. Mike Green added an assist to extend his point streak to seven games. Green has 11 points on one goal and 10 assists during his current tear.

"We talked after the second period about how we knew they'd come out hard in the third, but we didn't respond when they pushed," said Caps defenseman Brian Pothier. "We got out-worked, out-competed, and they just seemed to want it a whole lot more than we did."

On the injury front, Washington may get defenseman Milan Jurcina (lower body) and Shaone Morrisonn (head) back tonight, but fellow blueliner Tom Poti (upper body) is doubtful for this evening's game. Jurcina is expected to be activated from injured reserve prior to the test.

Washington is 7-2-3 as the host this year, but had a three-game home winning streak snapped when it was dealt a 3-2 loss by Montreal last Friday.

Tonight marks the first of four meetings between Buffalo and the Capitals this season. The clubs split the season series in 2008-09, but the Sabres have taken eight of the last 11 encounters overall. Buffalo has also won in eight of its last 10 trips to D.C.