:caps: @ :sabres: Preview
CAPITALS (23-21-8) at SABRES (14-30-7)
TV: NBCSN, TSN2
Last 10: Washington 3-5-2; Buffalo 3-4-3
Season series: This is the third and final game between the teams. The Buffalo Sabres have won the first two games against the Washington Capitals this season, each by way of a 2-1 shootout victory. On Dec. 29, Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller made 50 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping all six Washington attempts in the shootout.
Big story: Washington's offense came to life in Alex Ovechkin's return to the lineup Saturday night, when the Capitals beat the Montréal Canadiens 5-0 at Bell Centre. The NHL's leading goal scorer, who had missed two games with a lower-body injury, scored his 36th goal and assisted on another. But the Capitals didn't rely on their scoring star to break out of a scoring funk, getting goals from three unlikely sources -- John Erskine, Jay Beagle and Casey Wellman each scored his first goal of the season.
CAPITALS (23-21-8) at SABRES (14-30-7)
TV: NBCSN, TSN2
Last 10: Washington 3-5-2; Buffalo 3-4-3
Season series: This is the third and final game between the teams. The Buffalo Sabres have won the first two games against the Washington Capitals this season, each by way of a 2-1 shootout victory. On Dec. 29, Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller made 50 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping all six Washington attempts in the shootout.
Big story: Washington's offense came to life in Alex Ovechkin's return to the lineup Saturday night, when the Capitals beat the Montréal Canadiens 5-0 at Bell Centre. The NHL's leading goal scorer, who had missed two games with a lower-body injury, scored his 36th goal and assisted on another. But the Capitals didn't rely on their scoring star to break out of a scoring funk, getting goals from three unlikely sources -- John Erskine, Jay Beagle and Casey Wellman each scored his first goal of the season.
