Capitals 3, Sabres 7
Scoresheet - Wash Post
The Caps were hoping for better on this New York road trip. Instead it was a disaster. After a strong start to the season, the Caps drop two straight with a rout in Buffalo. And the Sabres showed they still had it. The Capitals were badly outshot, outplayed and outwitted.
Glen Hanlon's possession game is turning into a high risk turn over in the neutral zone. The Captials just couldn't get a clean break out going, and it was only a matter of time that the opposing team started putting pressure on the defense. With an exception for a few, the Caps defense are not great at puck handling. Those turn overs killed the Capitals.
Alex Ovechkin added to his goal total with a tally, as did Mike Green and Micheal Nylander. Green's goal came in the third after serving a penalty and snuck behind the Sabre defense. After Buffalo's Ryan Miller hesitated chasing after the puck, Green made him pay with a puck in the back of the net.
There was just a complete breakdown in defensive coverage in this game. Brent Johnson did well considering he faced 53 shots. The Caps only peppered Miller with a meager 23. For what ever reason the Caps' offense just couldn't get it in gear. And the defense broke.
Flashes of two seasons ago haunted my thoughts as I watched the game. It did look as if the Caps were doing the right things, making the right plays. Yet, no win. I am not panicking just yet. It's only the 5 game of the season.
Joe Motzko was called up for the game. I hardly saw him do anything.
Next game: Thursday hosting the Islanders. The Caps need a few days to recover, so they will take tomorrow off (at least that is what the practice schedule says). Then it's back to the grind. The only good thing about the next couple of games will be that the Caps are back at the Phone Booth.
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