Sabres vs. Capitals: Alex Ovechkin's Two Goals Seal 3-1 Win For Washington

The Washington Capitals got two goals from superstar forward Alex Ovechkin to prevail 3-1 against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night at the Verizon Center.

Ovechkin's first tally came at the 1:42 mark of the first period on a Washington power play. That 1-0 score held until 3:52 of the second, when Nicklas Backstrom scored his 13th goal of the season off assists from Alexander Semin and Roman Hamrlik to make the score 2-0.

Buffalo finally answered with a goal from Jochen Hecht at the 15:02 mark of the second period, but Ovechkin's second goal of the game at 14:10 of the third period slammed the door on the Sabres and allowed Washington to cruise to victory.

Tomas Vokoun stopped 25 of 26 shots for Washington to pick up the win. Ryan Miller was the loser, saving just 18 shots on 21 attempts.

The Caps improved to 19-15-2 on the season with the win. They'll travel to face the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday at Nationwide Arena.

Sabres Vs. Capitals: Buffalo Stampedes Late, Cuts Caps' Lead To 2-1

It's only fitting that the Buffalo Sabres stampeded at some point.

Nicklas Backstrom's early goal gave the Washington Capitals a 2-0 lead, but a push by the Sabres during the second half of the period has them down 2-1 after 40 minutes.

Backstrom's 13th goal of the season came in highlight reel fashion. Alexander Semin started the play by stealing the puck and passing to Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin cut through the middle of the offensive zone and passed to Roman Hamrlik, who was waiting on the left boards. Hamrlik then sent a cross-ice pass to Semin, who quickly cut the puck back to Backstrom in the slot. Ryan Miller had no chance as he slid across the crease expecting a shot from Semin. Backstrom had a wide open net and his 100th career goal at 3:52.

Jochen Hecht cut the Caps' lead in half at 15:02 when he jumped on the loose rebound from Thomas Vanek's shot from the slot and put it past a sprawling Tomas Vokoun for his fourth goal of the season.

After being outshot 11-2 in the first period, the Sabres held a 15-6 shot advantage in the second period.

PHOTO: Jason Chimera Salutes Ryan Miller After Scrum

Sabres Vs. Capitals: Chippy First Period Ends With Caps Holding 1-0 Lead

For once against the Buffalo Sabres, something went the Washington Capitals' way.

Alex Ovechkin's intended pass turned into the game's first goal as the Caps lead the Sabres 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Ovechkin's 13th goal of the season was intended to be an assist. With the Caps on the power play after Mike Weber boarded Jason Chimera, Ovechkin took a pass from Tomas Vokoun in the defensive zone and barreled down the ice. He cut wide to the right boards and attempted a centering pass to Brooks Laich. The pass, however, deflected off Christian Ehrhoff and past Ryan Miller, who was sliding across the crease in preparation for the shot that never came.

The intensity ratcheted up later in the period when a scrum in front of the net late in the period led to a fight between Chimera and Weber. Soon after, Troy Brouwer wrestled with Ehrhoff.

The Caps dominated play, outshooting the Sabres 11-2.

Sabres Vs. Capitals Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Washington Capitals will hope the third time is a charm when they hit the ice to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. The Sabres have taken both games between the two teams so far this season, but are coming off a 3-1 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. The Caps, meanwhile, topped the New York Rangers 4-1 on Wednesday night and will be looking to build upon that momentum. For details on how to follow Friday's matchup, see below.

Game Date and Time: Friday, Dec. 30, 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

TV: Comcast Sports Net

For more on the Capitals, be sure to check out Japer's Rink, SB Nation's Washington Capitals blog. For news and notes on the Sabres, please visit Die By The Blade, SB Nation's Buffalo Sabres blog. Also, be sure to stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates and a recap.

Sabres Vs. Capitals: Tomas Vokoun To Start, Mike Green Not Ready To Return

BALLSTON, Va. - The Washington Capitals held their typical morning skate Friday in preparation of their game with the Buffalo Sabres and not much has changed:

• Tomas Vokoun will get the start, his second straight after his 31-save performance against the New York Rangers Wednesday. Head coach Dale Hunter did not say whether or not Vokoun would split the workload with Michal Neuvirth this weekend since the Caps play a back-to-back set Friday and Saturday.
• The lines should be the same as they were Wednesday with the one exception possibly being the normal third line of Jason Chimera, Brooks Laich and Joel Ward filling in as the second.
  
• Mike Green, Jeff Schultz and Mathieu Perreault took part in extra skating after the morning skate, so they will likely miss Friday's game. Green has yet to play since straining his right groin muscle November 11, while Schultz has appeared in only five games under Hunter's watch. Perreault suffered an upper-body injury Monday against the Sabres when his stick got caught along the boards and speared him in the stomach.

Sabres Vs. Capitals: Washington Hopes To Lose Sour Taste With Win Against Buffalo

The Caps will look for a modicum of revenge Friday against the team that beat them Monday.