Capitals looking for consistency in Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Washington Capitals will look for their third win over Buffalo in two weeks when they take on the Sabres on Friday night.
The Capitals have suffered from inconsistent play in recent games, even in victories. After surrendering a 3-0 lead on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, Washington survived with a 4-3 overtime victory. The players still held a players-only meeting after the game.
"We had a little talk in here and there's some things we've got to clean up," said forward T.J. Oshie, who returned against Boston after missing seven games with a shoulder injury. "I think it's more of mentality than it is any systems or anything like that. Once we get a step up on somebody, we've got to get that mentality that we're going to finish them off."
The Capitals haven't had many problems against the Sabres in recent weeks, however. Washington picked up a 3-1 win over Buffalo on Nov. 25 and a 3-2 overtime over Buffalo on Dec. 5. In their most recent game, the Capitals came back from a late 3-2 deficit before winning in overtime. Marcus Johansson had both the game-tying goal and the game-winner in the victory.
Nicklas Backstrom had the game-winner in overtime against Boston on Tuesday. Backstrom leads the team with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 25 games. Captain Alex Ovechkin isn't far behind with 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 25 games.
Goaltending has been a major strength for the Capitals this season. Starter Braden Holtby has a .923 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average, and backup Philipp Grubauer has a .936 save percentage and a 1.80 goals against average. Each has a win over Buffalo this season.
The Sabres are hoping to be much healthier along the blue line opening the season plagued by injuries. Buffalo has been without three key defensemen for a significant period of time -- Dmitry Kulikov (lower back), Josh Gorges (foot) and Zach Bogosian (knee sprain) -- and both Kulikov and Gorges have a chance of returning against the Capitals.
"I feel like I could (play)," Gorges said, according to the team's website. "I guess we'll reevaluate things today and tomorrow morning, talk to doctors and the medical staff and get a better idea of whether that's possible or not."
The Sabres sent defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer back to the AHL's Rochester Americans on Thursday with their blue line getting healthier. It's expected that youngster Brendan Guhle will return to his junior team after being promoted on an emergency basis.
Guhle, 19, has impressed in his limited time with the big club.
"I don't know what I totally expected given the circumstances, given who he was playing against," Sabres head coach Bylsma said, according to the team's website. "You kind of look to see how anyone's going to do against (Alex) Ovechkin, against (Connor) McDavid's speed, and he did a pretty good job of it, a pretty remarkable job for a young kid to step in."
The Sabres are coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had the game-winner on his first goal of the year.
