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Capitals Fall To Sabres, 4-3(SO) In 2023 Preseason Opener; Hunter Shepard Strong In Goal

By Jon Sorensen·
Photo: X/@Capitals

While the Washington Commanders were getting trounced by the Buffalo Bills just down the road at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, the Washington Capitals opened their 2023 pre-season slate of games Sunday afternoon hosting the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena. The Capitals also fell to Buffalo, 4-3, in the shootout.

Hunter Shepard got the start in goal for the Capitals while Eric Comrie got the nod for the visiting Sabres. The Capitals forward lines and defensive pairs:

Aliaksei Protas – Dylan Strome – Matthew Phillips
Sonny Milano – Hendrix Lapierre – Anthony Mantha
Jake Karabela – Riley Sutter – Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Alexnder Suzdalev – Ryan Hofer – Henrik Rybinski

Alex Alexeyev – Trevor van Riemsdyk
Martin Fehervary – Vincent Iorio
Lucas Johansen – Dylan McIlrath

Hunter Shepard
Clay Stevenson

FIRST PERIOD

The Capitals were called for back-to-back penalties in the early going after Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Alex Alexeyev were called for successive infractions, but the Capitals penalty kill was up the task, keeping the game scoreless. There were a total of four penalties called in the first 5:35 of the game.

The Capitals opened the scoring with a close-range shot from the low slot by Nicolas Aube-Kubel with 5:08 remaining in the first frame. Riley Sutter and Lucas Johansen had the helpers. It was the Capitals fourth shot on goal of the period.

The first period concluded with the Capitals holding the 1-o lead. The Sabres led in shots 10-5, and were able to fire a majority of those shots from the low slot. Hunter Shepard was strong against all shots.

SECOND PERIOD

After a scoreless half of the middle frame, Clay Stevenson took over between the pipes for the Capitals. Hunter Shepard stopped all 18 shots he faced.

The Capitals made it 2-0 late in the middle frame with a goal from Ryan Hofer with just over seven minutes remaining in the frame. Henrik Rybinski and Trevor van Riemsdyk had the helpers.

The Sabres answered three minutes later with a goal from JJ Peterka with 4:02 remaining in the second period, making it 2-1.

The second period concluded with the Capitals maintaining a one-goal lead, 2-1. The Capitals flipped the script in the middle frame, generating shots from the slot and the net front.

THIRD PERIOD

The Sabres tied the game early in the final frame with a tally from Peyton Krebs just 1:19 into the period.

The Sabres grabbed their first lead of the game with less than 11 minutes to go in the game. Zach Benson was credited with the go-ahead marker at 8:59 of the third period.

But the Capitals quickly answered with a goal from Sonny Milano at 12:31,tying the game 3-3. Anthony Mantha and Dylan Strome had the helpers.

Regulation would end with the game tied 3-3.

Trevor van Riemsdyk left the game in the third period after being struck on the right arm/hand by a shot. He’ll be evaluated tomorrow. Spencer Carbery said there’s “definitely concern”.

Carbery added that he’d be concerned any time a veteran player leaves the game and doesn’t return, but it was clear that there’s concern for TvR. He didn’t put his hand back on his stick for the rest of the shift after the contact occurred.

OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT

The five-minute overtime period went without a score, sending the game to the shootout.

Round 1: Sonny Milano, good. JJ Peterko, good.
Round 2: Hendrix Lapierre, no good, Zach Benson, no good
Round 3: Dylan Strome, no good, Brandon Biro, good.

NHL Box Score