Sabres Vs Capitals 12/26/2008 Review

Alex Ovechkin scores game winning goal vs Sabres.
December 26, 2008 Photo by Nick Wass / AP Photo.

Sabres 2 - Capitals 3

With a strong performance by netminder Jose Theodore and a highlight reel game winning goal by star forward Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres in front of their home crowd. After losing in the previous three visits by the Sabres, it was especially nice to get the day after Christmas present.

Theodore was tested early on, and he showed he was ready to play well in this game straight away. Ovechkin also chipped in on defense with a nice possibly goal saving poke check during first period Sabres breakaway.

It was Washington who struck first. Viktor Kozlov got the late second period goal at 17:46. It started with defenseman Bryan Helmer gaining control of the puck in the Caps end and getting it to Kozlov. Viktor skated up the ice, and after a little give and go with Nicklas Backstrom, he put the puck past Buffalo goalie Patrick Lalime. With 1:05 left in the second period, Ovechkin's first goal was waived off. It was ruled no good because of goalie interference by Brooks Laich, even though it looked like the puck was already in the net before the contact.

Things really heated up in the third period, starting with a deflection goal by Boyd Gordon at 1:58, off of a blast from the point by Milan Jurcina. Keep those rockets coming Juice, and good things will keep on happening. After a seriously cheap slashing call on Alex Ovechkin, Buffalo scored on the power play via Thomas Vanek. Somebody tell Gordon to play on until the whistle is blown. He was out of position on the play, while unsuccessfully pleading for a hand pass call on the Sabres.

The Sabres' Toni Lydman would get another goal for Buffalo with just under two minutes left, but only after Ovechkin put the Caps ahead for good at 8:27. The play started with another outlet pass by Bryan Helmer. Ovie skated the puck by a few defenders on his journey to the other end of the ice, overcoming a slash and a hook along the way. He released his shot while falling to the ice surface, before following the puck into the net. The game winning goal is his 23rd goal of the season.

With the win, the Capitals home game record improves to 14-1-1, which is the best in the East. It was also great to see Captain Chris Clark return, after missing 14 games with a forearm fracture. They'll need his grit when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow. One of the best Capitals, Mike Gartner will have his number 11 jersey retired prior to the game.