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This was another important game for the Washington Capitals. It was a chance for the Caps to get a fourth straight win for the first time this season. They desperately needed to keep their good fortune going. But, they ultimately failed to do so.
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Early in the first period, the Capitals got their first Power Play when Brian Pothier was cross checked by the Buffalo Sabres' Thomas Vanek who got two minutes for interference. Vanek is currently enjoying the richest contract in Sabres history. As if being cross checked in the back wasn't bad enough, Pothier also got hit with the puck. Thankfully, he wasn't injured. However, the Caps were unable to score during the two minute man advantage. At 12:32 the Sabres were caught with too many men on the ice. Washington had been caught for the same infraction earlier in the period. Standing beside the net, Nicklas Backstom passed the puck from the Buffalo goal line to Alexander Ovechkin, who then tipped in his own rebound for the first goal of the game. It was Ovechkin's 23rd of the season. He now has points in seven straight games. With just over a minute left in the first period, Capitals' goaltender Olie Kolzig came well out of his crease to clear the puck. He fumbled the attempt, and two seconds later Buffalo's Derek Roy deposited the puck in the empty net. Roy's goal was unassisted, at least not by one of his own teammates. The period ended tied 1-1.
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After only 38 seconds into the second period, on a give & go play with Victor Kozlov, Backstrom got the puck past the Sabres' goaltender Ryan Miller. At 3:32 the Caps were caught with too many men on the ice again. That made the third time in less than twenty-four minutes of play that one of these teams got busted for playing an extra skater. Washington killed off the penalty, keeping the score at Sabres 1 - Capitals 2. With about nine & a half minutes left in the period, the Sabres' visorless Tim Connolly was hit just under one eye with the puck. He was not severely injured. Then, with just over a minute left, Maxim Afinogenov tied it up for the Sabres by scoring his fifth goal of the season. Unfortunately, the puck was actually knocked in by the Capitals' Mike Green, who was trying to stick check. All of Max's goals this season have been in the second period. So, the second period ended tied 2-2.
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Just 19 seconds into the third period, Buffalo's Drew Stafford put the Sabres ahead with a wrap around goal. Less than five minutes later, Washinton's Brooks Laich evened it back up. He sent the puck, not playable by the goaltender Miller because of an odd bounce off the boards behind the net, into the net with a lay up wrist shot. Later on, Connolly backhanded one in for the Sabres' fourth. With 1:14 left in the game & Kolzig pulled for the extra skater, Jochen Hecht made it 5-3 with the empty net wrister.
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While being interviewed after the game, Capitals' Coach Bruce Boudreau had plenty to say. Not much of it was positive. Boudreau, referring to whether the loss would make his players more determined in tomorrow night's game, said he was going to "find out about a lot of guys tomorrow". He also said "I'm not going to accept any excuses". Boudreau said, referring to mistakes made & lack of focus in the third period...."You keep doing that, and you're not going to play". Hopefully, the Capitals can regain the form of the last three games, & get another win streak started tomorrow night, when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning.
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