Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals thumped the Buffalo Sabres 6-1 Friday night at Capital One Arena. The win improves the Capitals record to 10-2-3 on the season, good enough for 23 points and first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals are back in action on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 PM.
GAME STATS
GAME SUMMARY
The Capitals would explode for four goals in a four-minute span of the first period. Jakub Vrana would score two goals and Chandler Stephenson and Brendan Leipsic added scores for a 4-0 lead at the first intermission. The Sabres would register their first tally early in the second stanza, but Tom Wilson would restore the Capitals four goal lead late in the period for a 5-1 Capitals lead at the second intermission. TJ Oshie would add a late goal to make it 6-1, and that would be the final.
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (5-1-0-3, 3.55 GAA, .888 save percentage) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Linus Ullmark got the start in goal for the visiting Sabres. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
#Caps‘ lines vs BUF:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 77-Oshie
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 43-Wilson
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 21-Hathaway
28-Leipsic, 18-Stephenson, 72-Boyd6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 33-Gudas
34-Siegenthaler, 3-JensenHoltby vs. Ullmark. #CapsSabres
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) November 1, 2019
Scratches: Nic Dowd (injury) and Tyler Lewington. Liam O’Brien was recalled by the Capitals on Friday.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals would strike quickly at the start of this one. First, Jakub Vrana would score on a breakaway at 6:17 of the first period. Tom Wilson would be credited the lone assist.
V good #CapsSabres pic.twitter.com/3N4lW11seY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2019
Then just 42 seconds later Chandler Stephenson would finish a Capitals odd-man breakaway, making it 2-0 at 6:59 of the first period. Travis Boyd and Brendan Leipsic would get the assists.
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 3-0 with Jakub Vrana’s second tally of game at 9:29 of the first frame.
It’s still the first period and @JVranaa has his 2nd goal tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tllH6rFnEt
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2019
The Capitals would make t 4-0 with a goal from Brendan Leipsic at 10:44 of the first period. Travis Boyd and Radko Gudas had the helpers.
OMG ANOTHER GOAL ARE YOU KEEPING UP?? Welcome to the scoring club, Brendan! pic.twitter.com/dlDefoBC7E
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 1, 2019
The first period would conclude with the Capitals holding a 4-0 lead. The Sabres led in shots on goal 16-11 in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Sabres would get on the scoreboard at 10:40 of the middle frame with a goal from Henri Jokiharju, making it 4-1.
Jokiharju gets his first career goal! 🚨
We’re on the board! #Sabres50 pic.twitter.com/xC5qpaaHyS
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 2, 2019
The Capitals would restore their four goal lead with a tally from Tom Wilson (5) at 16:53 of the second period, making it 5-1. Michal Kempny was credited with the lone assist.
The second period would end with the Capitals leading 5-1. The Sabres led in shots on goal 9-8 for the second period and 25-19 after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals and Sabres would skate to a scoreless draw for TJ Oshie would add a late goal to make it 6-1, and that would be the final.
OOOOOO-SH! pic.twitter.com/0HdH4xmqap
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 2, 2019
SHAVINGS
- The NHL box score is here.
- Michal Kempny had three assists.
- Travis Boyd had two assists.
- Capitals outshot Sabres 34-30.
- The Capitals out-attempted the Sabres 52-47.
- Buffalo was 0 for 2 and the Capitals 0 for 1 on the power play.
- Capitals won faceoff battle 56-44%.
- Lars Eller played in his 700th career NHL game.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT
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