Caps fall 4-2 in Buffalo Monday
Posted on December 27, 2011The Sabres played the role of Grinch Monday night at First Niagara Center, passing the Capitals in the Eastern Conference standings with a 4-2 win. Buffalo scored early and often in the first to take a 4-0 lead after one. Jason Pominville started the scoring scored his 12th goal of the season just 51 seconds into the period on a power play. The Sabres ran the score out to 2-0 when Matt Ellis scored his second goal of the season, and picked up his first point in 15 games at the 3:10 mark unassisted. Christian Ehrhoff then chased Michal Neuvirth to the bench by scoring his third goal of the season, a right point shot that went left corner at 11:15. Tomas Vokoun came off the bench, and allowed Brayden McNabb's first career NHL goal at 14:14. Washington would score the only goal of the second period, with the fourth line chipping in to dent the Buffalo lead. Matt Hendricks, after the goal was originally awarded to Mathieu Perreault, picked up his first goal of the season at 19:43. Alex Ovechkin added a power play goal in the third period would round out the scoring, and make the final 4-2. With the loss, Washington slipped to 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, as Buffalo moved one point ahead of the Caps to 10th. The Capitals return home to face the New York Rangers Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. Airtime on the Capitals Radio Network is 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's game will mark the first time that the play-by-play of Caps hockey will be available in the arena bowl at Verizon Center. Fans can bring headset radios to the game and listen to all the action at 87.9 FM. Jeff Schultz was a healthy scratch Monday, the sixth time in the last seven games that Schultz has not gotten a sweater.
