SB Nation DC - Capitals Vs. Sabres: Washington Suffers Another Humbling Defeat In Buffalo In 4-2 Losshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-12-27T09:26:18-05:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24260102011-12-27T09:26:18-05:002011-12-27T09:26:18-05:00Mathieu Perreault Injury: Washington Capitals' Forward Taken To Hospital After Being Hit By Own Stick
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> forward <span>Mathieu Perreault</span> was taken to a Buffalo hospital on Monday after getting speared by his own stick in the third period of the Capitals' 4-2 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> on Monday night. Perreault was taken there for precautionary reasons and flew home separately early Tuesday morning, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/kcarrera/status/151642977431863296">according to Katie Carrera of the Washington Post</a>.</p>
<p>The injury occurred with five minutes and 59 seconds remaining in the third period. Perreault was in the offensive zone when he ran into Sabres defensemen <span>Christian Ehrhoff</span> in the corner. Perreault's own stick was pushed into his midsection and he fell on the ground. Perreault did skate for three more shifts before leaving the game for good with what the team deemed an "upper-body injury." The team said he was taken to the hospital for "precautionary reasons." By then, the game was mostly out of reach.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Capitals, visit <a href="http://www.japersrink.com">Japers' Rink</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/27/2663477/mathieu-perreault-injury-washington-capitals-buffalo-sabresMike Prada2011-12-26T21:36:56-05:002011-12-26T21:36:56-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres: Washington Suffers Another Humbling Defeat In Buffalo In 4-2 Loss
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<p>On November 26, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> faced the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> at First Niagara Center and left with a humiliating defeat. Exactly one month later, not much changed.</p>
<p>A four-goal first period for the Sabres ultimately spelled doom for the Caps in a 4-2 loss Monday.</p>
<p><span>Jason Pominville</span>, <span>Matt Ellis</span>, <span>Christian Ehrhoff</span> and <span>Brayden McNabb</span> scored in the first period - twice on the power play - to chase <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> (three goals on six shots) and put the game out of reach.</p>
<p><span>Matt Hendricks</span>' first goal of the season late in the second period and <span>Alex Ovechkin's</span> power play goal midway through the third period made the game look respectable, but the score was not indicative of the Caps' overall effort.</p>
<p>The loss drops the Caps to 6-10-1 on the road. Those 13 points are second-fewest in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p>Washington will have another chance to redeem themselves against Buffalo Friday at Verizon Center, but before that, they will have to face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> Wednesday at home.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/26/2662872/capitals-vs-sabres-final-scoreAdam Vingan2011-12-26T20:44:54-05:002011-12-26T20:44:54-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres: Mathieu Perreault's Late Goal Cuts Caps' Deficit To 4-1
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<p>There was some good news for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> in the second period: the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> didn't score and they did.</p>
<p><span>Mathieu Perreault's</span> late goal put a dent into the Sabres' lead as the Caps trail 4-1 after 40 minutes.</p>
<p>While <span>Matt Hendricks</span> and <span>Mike Knuble</span> wreaked havoc in the crease, Perreault corralled the loose puck and fired a wrist shot from the high slot that beat <span>Ryan Miller</span>. The unassisted goal cut the Sabres' lead to just three goals.</p>
<p>In more positive news, Washington is actually outshooting Buffalo 14-13. Also, the Caps came back from a three-goal deficit in the third period of Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a>.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/26/2662772/capitals-vs-sabres-score-mathieu-perreaultAdam Vingan2011-12-26T19:49:39-05:002011-12-26T19:49:39-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres: Floodgates Open In Buffalo As Sabres Lead Caps 4-0
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<p>Niagara Falls isn't too far from where the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> are playing Monday, which is apropos because it seems as though they are falling over the edge.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> came out firing as they lead the Caps 4-0 after 20 minutes.</p>
<p>The Sabres took a 1-0 lead just 51 seconds into the game on the power play. With <span>Roman Hamrlik</span> in the penalty box for sending the puck over the glass nine seconds in, <span>Jordan Leopold</span> brought the puck into the offensive zone and passed it up to <span>Drew Stafford</span>, who then crossed it to <span>Jason Pominville</span>. Pominville put the puck past <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> for his 12th goal of the season.</p>
<p>Not even three minutes later, <span>Matt Ellis</span> put Buffalo up 2-0 when he stripped the puck from <span>Karl Alzner</span> on a faceoff in the offensive zone, muscled his way to the net and put his backhand past Neuvirth. <span>Christian Ehrhoff</span> added insult to injury when his point shot eluded Neuvirth for his third goal of the season at 11:15. <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> then relieved Neuvirth after the latter allowed three goals on six shots.</p>
<p><span>Brayden McNabb</span> pushed Buffalo's lead to 4-0 at 14:14 when <span>Brad Boyes</span> maneuvered around three Washington defenders before dropping the puck to McNabb in the slot.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/26/2662495/capitals-vs-sabres-scoreAdam Vingan2011-12-26T16:08:51-05:002011-12-26T16:08:51-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres Game Time, TV Schedule And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> (17-14-2, 36 points) visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> (16-15-3, 35 points) on Monday night with the puck slated to drop at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Tune in to CSN+, but not CSN, to catch the game; CSN is carrying the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a>' NBA season opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">New Jersey Nets</a> instead.</p>
<p>Buffalo is just 8-9-3 on its home ice and has lost three straight games by an average score of 5-2, so Washington certainly has an opportunity to improve its unimpressive 6-9-1 road record.</p>
<p>Here is everything you need to know about the Capitals vs. Sabres game:</p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time: </b>Monday, Dec. 26, 7:00 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Location: </b>First Niagara Center, Buffalo, NY</p>
<p><b>TV:</b> CSN+ </p>
<p><b>Radio: </b>Capitals: <a href="http://capitals.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=69030" target="blank">Capitals Radio Network</a>; Sabres: WGR 550 AM</p>
<p><em>For more Capitals coverage, please visit <a href="http://www.japersrink.com/" target="blank">Japers' Rink</a>, SB Nation's Capitals blog. For the perspective from the other side, please check out <a href="http://www.diebytheblade.com/" target="blank">Die by the Blade</a>, SB Nation's Sabres blog.</em></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/26/2662322/capitals-vs-sabres-game-time-tv-informationEvan Dunlap2011-12-26T13:06:24-05:002011-12-26T13:06:24-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres: Tomas Vokoun Confused By Benching
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<p>There was a bit of confusion for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> fans in Buffalo on Monday. <span>Tomas Vokoun</span> left the ice first at the team's morning skate, a move that usually indicates he is the starting goalie. However, a few minutes later, it was announced that <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> would instead be the starter for Monday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Sabres</a>.</p>
<p>Afterwards, Vokoun wasn't happy. <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/capitals-watch/2011/dec/26/tomas-vokoun-i-dont-know-what-i-did-wrong-capitals/">Via Stephen Whyno of the Washington Times</a>.</p>
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<p>"<span>I can't really tell you. I don't know what I did wrong to be in this spot," Vokoun said. "I'm a professional hockey player and I don't make decisions who plays, who doesn't. That's not question for me. All I can answer is where I play, how I play and how I felt I did out there and stuff like that. That's pretty much all I can tell you about."</span></p>
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<p>Vokoun has not started in goal since December 13, when he gave up four goals in 21 shots in a blowout Capitals loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/">Philadelphia Flyers</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Capitals, visit <a href="http://www.japersrink.com">Japers' Rink</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2011/12/26/2661973/capitals-vs-sabres-tomas-vokoun-michal-neuvirthMike Prada2011-12-25T19:41:36-05:002011-12-25T19:41:36-05:00Capitals Vs. Sabres: Washington Returns To Site Of One Of Season's Worst Games Monday
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<p>The Caps return to the site of one of their most lopsided losses of the season Monday when they face the Sabres at First Niagara Center.</p> <p>Christmas may be over, but there's still time left to enjoy season's greetings. Monday, however, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> return to the site of one of their most unwelcoming games of the season when they face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> at First Niagara Center.</p>
<p>A 5-1 loss to the Sabres November 26 proved fatal for former head coach Bruce Boudreau, who was fired two days later after the Caps lost to a team missing nine regulars. Buffalo is still missing several starters, such as <span>Thomas Vanek</span> (upper-body), <span>Tyler Ennis</span> (ankle), <span>Jochen Hecht</span> (lower-body), <span>Nathan Gerbe</span> (concussion), <span>Tyler Myers</span> (wrist), <span>Brad Boyes</span> (lower-body) and <span>Ville Leino</span> (lower-body). Yet, Vanek, Myers and Boyes could play Monday.</p>
<p>Entering action Monday, Washington is 10th in the Eastern Conference, just three points behind eighth-place Ottawa. The Caps, however, have only played 33 games; no team in the East has played fewer than that. Buffalo is one point behind Washington in 1qth place, so a Caps win will give them a three-point lead.</p>
<p><span>Jason Chimera's</span> two goals in the third period brought the Caps back from a 3-0 deficit Friday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/">New Jersey Devils</a>, but the Cap ultimately lost 4-3 in a shootout. Washington has earned points in six of its last 10 games.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2011/12/25/2660997/capitals-vs-sabres-previewAdam Vingan