The Washington Capitals built on their 60 minute domination over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over the struggling Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night at Capital One Arena. This very could’ve been a trap game but the Caps responded well after their biggest win of the season.
The Caps got a power play opportunity late in the first period and cashed in. William Borgen went to the box for slashing Conor Sheary. On the attack there was a scramble in front of the net and Nicklas Backstrom was there to knock it in to extend his point streak to five games. It was his eighth goal of the season. T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin were credited with the assists. The goal came at 17:23.
1-0 would be the score after one. Shots were even at six.
In the second, it would be the Sabres who would get the power play chance. Oshie was called for high sticking. Then at 6:38 with the Caps on the penalty kill, Tom Wilson stripped the puck and rushed down the ice for a shorthanded breakaway. He backhanded it in for his sixth goal of the season.
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2-0 was the score after two and guess what? Shots were even at 11.
At 7:28 in the third period, Conor Sheary rebounded in a goal. It was the second straight game he scored and like the last game, it came against one of his former teams. Lars Eller and Justin Schultz had the helpers.
The Sabres robbed Vitek Vanecek of a shutout at 11:27 with a goal from Victor Olofsson. The Caps would hang on from there on out for the 3-1 win. Vanecek made 22 saves.
Wilson told the media after the game via Samantha Pell of The Washington Post (subscription required):
"“Build on Pittsburgh: That was the focus for tonight. . . . We didn’t really give them much, so we’re feeling a little better about our game. So we got to keep that rolling and just keep the momentum going.”"
Peter Laviolette spoke highly of Vitek Vanecek after the game:
"“I don’t think much has changed with him. He’s given us an opportunity to win hockey games from the start of the year. But I think what we were trying to do is put a better game in front of him, and so it’s been a little bit better the last couple games. But he’s given us a chance. He’s done a good job. He did another good job tonight.”"
The Caps will be back in action tomorrow against the New York Rangers in a 12:30 p.m. puck drop. The team recalled Ilya Samsonov on Friday morning while sending Craig Anderson to the taxi squad.