SB Nation DC - Sabres Vs. Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom's Goal Caps Off Washington's 4-3 Shootout Victory Over Buffalohttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-09-30T22:01:31-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22253932011-09-30T22:01:31-04:002011-09-30T22:01:31-04:00Sabres Vs. Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom's Goal Caps Off Washington's 4-3 Shootout Win Over Buffalo
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<p>Though it still may be the preseason. based on Friday's game, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are in mid-season form.</p>
<p><span>Nicklas Backstrom's</span> sixth-round shootout goal lifted the Caps to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> at Verizon Center.</p>
<p>Backstrom finished the scoring, but actually opened it as well in the first period to give the Caps a 1-0 lead at 8:06. Yet, the Sabres responded 20 seconds later when <span>Jason Pominville</span> scored off of a rebound. <span>Thomas Vanek</span> scored his first of two goals Friday near the end of the first period to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.</p>
<p>Mike Green tied the game at 2-2 midway through the second period on the power play, but Vanek responded with his second goal of the night about four minutes later to once again give Buffalo the lead at 3-2. That lead stood until late in the third period when <span>Matt Hendricks</span> put <span>Mike Green's</span> rebound past <span>Ryan Miller</span> at 13:33 to tie the game at 3-3.</p>
<p>After a scoreless overtime, Washington looked to have the shootout won in the third round after <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> and <span>Alexander Semin</span> scored on back-to-back attempts, but Pominville beat <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> (21 saves) to keep the shootout going. It was not until Backstrom's goal in the sixth round that the Caps held on for the victory after Vokoun stopped <span>Luke Adam</span>.</p>
<p>At 2-3-1, Washington has one preseason game remaining Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>. The regular season begins next Saturday at Verizon Center against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canescountry.com/">Carolina Hurricanes</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/9/30/2461354/sabres-vs-capitals-score-final-nicklas-backstromAdam Vingan2011-09-30T13:16:00-04:002011-09-30T13:16:00-04:00Sabres Vs. Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom's Goal Caps Off Washington's 4-3 Shootout Victory Over Buffalo
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<img alt="WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck against the Buffalo Sabres at the Verizon Center on September 30, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xK-X1yLf67Z_wiPeNdzJuwdjQxg=/3x0:996x662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4242365/127716384.jpg" />
<figcaption>WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: Alexander Semin #28 of the Washington Capitals shoots the puck against the Buffalo Sabres at the Verizon Center on September 30, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Capitals needed some late-game heroics, but Nicklas Backstrom's shootout goal lifted them to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Sabres.</p> <p>Although the NHL's regular season does not begin until next week, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a>' 1-3-1 record through five exhibition games is unexpected of a team with such promise. With two preseason games left, the Caps hope to finish on a positive note, starting Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> at Verizon Center.</p>
<p>After a dominant 3-1 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> Monday, Washington struggled against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a> in a 4-1 loss Wednesday. <span>Mathieu Perreault</span> scored the only goal for the Caps Wednesday, but will not play Friday as he is "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/post/eakin-perreault-sjogren-push-forward-in-battle-for-roster-spot/2011/09/30/gIQA6MSJAL_blog.html">banged up</a>." Head coach Bruce Boudreau, however, believes Perreault will be ready to play Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Chicago Blackhawks</a>.</p>
<p>Via <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/post/capitals-notes-from-the-morning-skate/2011/09/30/gIQAIbFCAL_blog.html"><i>The Washington Post</i>'s Katie Carrera</a>, Washington's lines Friday should look like this:</p>
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<p><b>Forwards</b> <br align="block">Ovechkin-Johansson-Brouwer<br align="block">Laich-Backstrom-Semin<br align="block">Chimera-Eakin-Ward<br align="block">Hendricks-Halpern-Beagle</p>
<p><b>Defense</b> <br align="block">Alzner-Carlson<br align="block">Schultz-Green<br align="block">Hamrlik-Wideman</p>
<p><b>Goal</b> <br align="block">Vokoun<br align="block">Holtby</p>
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<p>For Buffalo, most of their expected regular season lineup could play with the exception of forward <span>Brad Boyes</span>, who will sit out for the second game of his two-game suspension for hitting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> forward <span>Joe Colborne</span> in the head last week.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/9/30/2460369/sabres-vs-capitals-score-previewAdam Vingan