Pre-Game: Capitals vs Sabres

NHL Image of the Night- January 1st

Alexei Ponikarovsky attempts to screen Buffalo's Ryan Miller. Buffalo defeated the Maple Leafs by the final score of 4-1. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Sabres

The last time the Caps played at HSBC Arena, Buffalo had an unfair advantage... Ya see, Washington was without Alex Ovechkin who missed a pair of games to start November (both Capitals losses).

Now Washington took the 5-0 defeat at the hands of Thomas Vanek (two goals) and Buffalo, but redeemed themselves on home ice last week, holding off the Sabres 3-2.

• Chris Bourque has been called-up, while Simeon Varlamov was demoted yesterday. Tarik is reporting that Jose Theodore will start again tonight. Jose has not won in Buffalo since January 14, 2000.
• Karl Alzner will sit out tonight's game with a hand injury. Shouldn't be too bad, but it could be, depending on how bad well Tyler Sloan plays.
• Washington has out shot their opponent in five of the last six games (5-1) and is now 15-6-0 when registering more shots than their opponent.
• Mike Green failed to record a shot for the first time this year in the Caps win against Toronto a few days ago. Green skated almost 21 minutes and picked up two assists.

At the beginning of the month, I examined how the Capitals fared when Alex Ovechkin does not get on the score sheet in the month of December.

This December, the Capitals have gone 10-3, with Ovechkin collecting 12 goals and seven assists in the Caps 13 games. Ovechkin was also named the first star of the week. Here's a look at Ovechkin's (and the Capitals') improvement:

December 2005: 8 goals, 11 assists, Capitals record: 5-6-1
December 2006: 9 goals, 14 assists, Capitals record: 6-7-1
December 2007: 11 goals, 7 assists, Capitals record: 7-2-3
December 2008: 12 goals, 7 assists, Capitals record: 10-3-0 (one game left)


I think Ovechkin is trying to impress me, because every Capitals game I go to, he puts on a show. In the games I've been to this year (opening night, Nov 26 vs Atlanta, Nov 28 vs Montreal, and December 28 vs Toronto), Ovie has scored eight goals, averaging two a game...So if anyone wants to give me tickets, I'm pretty sure I'm his good luck charm.

Post-Game: Capitals vs Sabres

Well I have begun saving my money for Stanley Cup playoff tickets.

This team is fo real.

Even with all these injuries, winning is not a problem. Having won seven of their last eight, Washington moved into a tie for second place with the Rangers (two wins in two meetings this year). The only team ahead of Washington is Boston, whom the Caps defeated earlier in December.

Coming back against the Rangers was unreal, and fending off the pesky Slugs Sabres to improve to 14-1-1 on home ice is just plain redonk.

• Viktor Kozlov has picked up his play of late and scored again last night. He whiped a wicked wrister past Patrick Lalime before he could say "Oh mon deur." Koz now has four goals in as many games. I think this is what sparked Koz.
• I've said this before, but good things happen when Boyd Gordon scores. The Capitals are now 16-2 when Gord-o scores.
• If Joe B. and Locker keep talking about how deadly Thomas Vanek is...of course he's going to score! Seemingly seconds after the announcers were applauding The Amazin' Austrian for returning to action after blocking an Ovechkin blast with his ankle, TV put the puck in the back of the net for his 25th.
• Alex Ovechkin was in the box for Vanek's goal that narrowed the gap to a 2-1 margin. The Capitals star had to do something, anything:

How's that rank Ovie?

"I don't know, I don't know. I mean, Top 20?"

Top 20?? Are you serious? What ever you say 'MVP'.

• I couldn't finish the recap without mentioning my man Nicklas Backstrom. He's got 24 helpers in his last 24 and is Top 5 in the league in assists. He almost threaded the needle at the end of the second period with a dandy of a pass to Koz, but Viktor missed the point-blank shot.
• Finally here are your three stars for the game, with the number one star being sent down earlier today:

Interesting seletctions... Helmer had a helluva game (feeding Ovie on his goal), Donald Brashear the second star? Okay... Ovie rounds out the top three, but no love for Jose Theodore (22/24 saves) or Backis (1 assist, +2 in 21 minutes).

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Sabres

The Capitals will look to continue their miraculous winning ways tonight against a Buffalo team that dismantled Washington 5-0 in their first and only meeting.

Lots of thing have changed since the teams met on the 1st of November:

• The United States has a new President.
• Thomas Vanek and Alex Semin were statistical twins (to this date, my favorite blog post since I started the site back in October).
• Jose Theodore was the clear cut number one goalie for Washington.
• At least eight players from the Capitals who played in the first game will not play tonight.
• Andrew Gordon, Bryan Helmer, Alexandre Giroux, and Varlamov have all been recalled for tonight's game.
  

Vanek has now gone onto to rank second in the league in scoring with 24 goals while Semin has gone onto skate in only 21 games (14 tallies).

Theodore has successfully lost all trust from everyone in Washington...especially Bruce Boudreau. Simeon Varlamov is waiting (and ready) for his chance to shine as Brent Johnson is still injured (what's new?).

• Buffalo's Derek Roy has scored more goals (eight in 15 games) against the Capitals than any other non-divisional team. His nine game point streak came to an end in Buffalo's overtime loss to Pittsburgh before the holiday 'break'. He has seven goals in his past nine games against the Caps.
  
• Theo redemmed himself in Washington's win versus the Rangers. After giving up three goals in the first handful of shots by the NYR, JT60 made some spectacular saves to earn the victory. Jose has not had a winning month of December since 2004 with the Canadiens.
• Ryan Miller, on the other hand, hasn't had a losing December since taking the 1-0 overtime loss against the New York Islanders on the last day of 2002 as a rookie.

NHL Image of the Night- December 22nd

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin celebrate Crosby's high sticking deflection that beat Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres in overtime. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

NHL Image of the Night- November 28th

Jason Pominville of the Buffalo Sabres turns the puck over to Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pominville assisted on Paul Gaustad's game-winning-goal in the third period and Buffalo won 4-3. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- November 14th

Andrew Peters of the Buffalo Sabres checks Michael Peca of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the Blue Jackets 6-1 victory over the Sabres. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- November 12th

Paul Gaustad of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates assisting on the game-winning-goal in the third period. Jay McKee (L) and Chris Mason are visibly disappointed by the outcome. The Sabres beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Sabres

The Capitals (5-3-1) will take on the Sabres (6-2-2) tonight, playing for the second time without Alex Ovechkin. Here's what you need to know:

• Buffalo has lost three straight, Washington has won two in-a-row.
  
• Thomas Vanek (9 goals) leads the league in scoring...Alexander Semin (8 goals) is second.
• Buffalo is 4-0 when Vanek has a multi-point game.
• Tim Connolly (back) will play for the first time this season.
• The Sabres are 3-0 when leading after the 1st period.
  
• The Capitals are 2-1 when trailing after the 1st period.
• Buffalo is tied (with three others) for the most goals (5) conceded to Donald Brashear.
• Sergei Fedorov has 29 points in 27 games against the Sabres.
  
• Ryan Miller (7-2 versus the Caps) has lost two straight after winning his first five games.
• Jose Theodore has only faced 185 shots, ranking 24th among goalies.

Capitals Preview

Sabres Preview

NHL Image of the Night- October 30th

Steven Stamkos and Vincent Lecavalier celebrate Stamkos' first career NHL goal in the first period of the Lightning's 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Stamkos finished with two goals on the night. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- October 27th

Jarkko Ruutu of the Ottawa Senators fights with Patrick Kaleta of the Buffalo Sabres during the Sens 5-2 victory. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.