Game #17 Preview: Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres

Where: HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY

When:  November 13, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-8-2-0

Caps Game 17 Record: 15-13-6-1

All-Time vs. BUF: 38-77-15-2

All-Time at BUF: 19-41-6-0

Last Season vs. BUF: 3-1-0

Last Meeting: 3/3/10, WAS 3 BUF 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 12-4-0

Standings Points: 24

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st      

Last Game: 11/11/10, WAS 6 TAM 3

Streak: Win 6

BUF Record: 5-9-3

Standings Points: 13

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 12th    

Last Game: 11/11/10, BUF 2 NYR 3 (OT)

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 3 POTI

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Buffalo

Forward Line 1: 63 ENNIS, 9 ROY, 26 VANEK

Forward Line 2: 55 HECHT, 19 CONNOLLY, 29 POMINVILLE

Forward Line 3: 8 MCCORMICK, 20 NIEDERMAYER, 25 GRIER

Forward Line 4: 37 ELLIS, 28 GAUSTAD, 36 KALETA

Defense Pair 1: 44 SEKERA, 57 MYERS

Defense Pair 2: 3 LEOPOLD, 4 MONTADOR

Defense Pair 3: 27 MORRISONN, 34 BUTLER

Goalie: 40 LALIME

Back-up Goalie: 1 ENROTH

Injuries:

Washington –1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 15 GORDON (lower body) IR

BUF – 30 MILLER (knee) IR, 42 GERBE (fractured jaw) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Mike Green needs 8 shots on goal to reach 800 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals head off to Buffalo wanting to extend their 6-game winning streak. Historically the Caps have had difficulties against the Sabres and may face the return of All-Star goalie Ryan Miller from injury. The Caps will look to get on the board in the first period. The team has struggled with only 7 first period goals in 16 games and never more than 1 in a game. While not scoring in the first, the second and third period is a different story all together. In the last 6 games the Caps have scored multiple goals in 8 of the 12 periods play and failed to score in only 2 of those periods. Look for the Caps to play an aggressive forecheck from the start of the game. Buffalo has been suffering a tough start to the season but has put up a couple of good efforts in their most recent games so this should be another grinding type game. I’m thinking the hot hands of Semin and Ovechkin will pull out another close win for the boys in the white jerseys.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 BUF 3

Official Preview