Sabres 3, Caps 0
That wasn’t much fun. Figures I’d write a story on how good the Caps offense has been this year – on pace for over 300 goals – and they’d immediately get shut out. But kudos to Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. His team did the job in the neutral zone and he was there when they needed a big save. Miller finished with 35 on the night. It is the first time Washington has been shut out since Jan. 9, 2009 against Columbus – at least during the regular season. The New York Rangers and star goalie Henrik Lundqvist picked one up in the playoffs last spring.
Can’t say the Caps had a ton of good chances through the first two periods. But Miller definitely kept three or four of them out of his own net, including two by Brendan Morrison and another from Alex Ovechkin when each player looked like he had room to score. But in the third period, Miller really put on a clinic. Buffalo didn’t have much urgency at the offensive end up 3-0. So the Caps outshot the Sabres 13-4 in the final period and still couldn’t find the mark. Miller now has an NHL-best four shutouts this season and leads the league in save percentage and goals-against average. He is the favorite to start for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February and – if he stays at this level – will have the Americans in the mix for a medal. Miller is playing that well right now.
Steve Montador scored for Buffalo in the first period. Henrik Tallinder and rookie Nathan Gerbe added goals in the second and the Sabres were never really threatened. Early in the day, Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said Gerbe would have to establish himself as a first or second line player to stick in the NHL and had to start producing like one. Well, he scored his first NHL goal and added an assist.
Caps may have another injury to deal with just as they were getting healthy again. Defenseman Brian Pothier left the ice in the second period and did not return. No update on his condition yet – though team officials did not rule out his return during the game. Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom combined for 11 shots on goal for the Caps. Jose Theodore stopped 25 of 28 shots in goal for Washington, which won 37 of 56 faceoffs on the night (66 percent). The Caps (19-6-6, 44 points) saw a six-game win streak snapped, but still have the most points in the NHL this season – pending San Jose’s game at home vs. the Los Angeles Kings tonight. Buffalo (17-9-2, 36 points) jumped back into first place in the Northeast Division ahead of the idle Boston Bruins. Will have more from Kettler Iceplex tomorrow. Caps are scheduled for an 11 a.m. practice – if they can get out of rainy/snowy Buffalo tonight.
