GDT#32 Sabres @ Capitals 7:00p.m. Sat Dec 15, 2018 NBCSWA, MSG-B

[ArJunaZ]

               
                             
             

  Game 32:  41-19-9-3 (PTS-W-L-OT)
  Saturday December 15, 2018   Buffalo Sabres @ Washington Capitals
  Place:  Capital One Arena
  Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  TV: NBCSWA, FS-CR
  Radio: 99.1 The Fan, Capitals Radio 24/7
  NHL.COM for Live Box Score
  Last Game: Fri December 14 Capitals Won 6-5 in SO against Hurricanes
  Next Game: Wed December 19, 8:00pm ET Penguins @ Capitals

8-Ovechkin	19-Bäckström	77-Oshie
13-Vrana	92-Kuznetsov	43-Wilson
10-Connolly	20-Eller	25-Smith-Pelly
18-Stephenson	26-Dowd	72-Boyd

6-Kempny	74-Carlson
9-Orlov	2-Niskanen
34-Siegenthaler	22-Bowey

1-Copley (starter)

70-Holtby

                                                      -- SCRATCH --         

65-Burakovsky

78-Lewington

23-Jaskin

                                               -- INJURED RESERVE --         

44-Orpik (Knee Surgery, 1-2 weeks before return)

29-Djoos (Thigh Surgery, many weeks before return)

                                            -- 1st Powerplay Unit -- 

92-Kuznetsov

19-Bäckström

77-Oshie

8-Ovechkin

74-Carlson

                                         -- 2nd Powerplay Unit --         

13-Vrana

20-Eller

43-Wilson

2-Niskanen

9-Orlov

  Referees:   Francois St. Laurent (#38),    Pierre Lambert (#37)
  Linesmen:   Bryan Pancich (#94),    Shandor Alphonso (#52)



                          Sabres LINEUP

           Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
         Conor Sheary -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Kyle Okposo
      Tage Thompson -- Vladimir Sobotka -- Jason Pominville
      Evan Rodrigues -- Johan Larsson -- Zemgus Girgensons

               Rasmus Dahlin -- Zach Bogosian
            Lawrence Pilut -- Rasmus Ristolainen
              Nathan Beaulieu -- Matt Tennyson

                      Carter Hutton   (Starter)
                      Linus Ullmark
Scratched: Remi Elie
Injured: Marco Scandella (upper body), Jake McCabe (lower body), Casey Nelson (upper body), Scott Wilson (ankle), Matt Hunwick (neck)
Suspended: Patrik Berglund





1st Period
02:41  Sabres GOAL Eichel, assists Reinhart & Dahlin   1-0 BUF
03:39  GOAL 10-Connolly, assist 25-Smith-Pelly   1-1 TIE
09:41  13-Vrana, assist 92-Kuznetsov   2-1 WSH

2nd Period
02:25  Sabres PP GOAL Eichel, assists Dahlin & Ristolainen   2-2 TIE
07:21  Sabres PP GOAL Dahlin, assists Skinner & Reinhart   3-2 BUF
13:46  GOAL 8-Ovechkin, assists 19-Bäckström & 9-Orlov   3-3 TIE

3rd Period
None

OT
None

SO
Oshie-O, Kuznetsov-X, Bäckström-O, Ovechkin-X
Eichel-O, Thompson-O, MittelStadt-X, Pominville-O

FINAL:    4-3 WSH






By Peter Hassett (@peterhassett) on December 15, 2018
Caps vs Sabres pregame: What will Ovi do next?

The man with the largest collection of Hats?

Tonight the Washington Capitals will play the Buffalo Sabres for the first time this season. Last time we saw the Sabres they were toilet tier, tanking for the number-one pick in the draft, which they won. Now with Rasmus Dahlin in addition to Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner (picked up from the Canes), the Sabres all of a sudden look daunting. Their record is virtually equal to the Caps, and they recently recorded a ten-game win streak. Even for a unrested Caps team, this could be a fun game, if only because Ovechkin will be on ice.

Puck drop in DC is at 7:00 PM and you can watch on NBCSWA on television or from your preferred gadget. The divine Elyse will have your recap.


Just Some Ovi Numbers

• 28 goals this season, most in the league
• 635 goals in his career, most since he entered the league
• 761 era-adjusted goals prior to this season, third most in NHL history
• 5,017 shots on goal in his career, most since he entered the league
• 12.4 percent career shooting prior to this season, 69th best
• 1,003 games played before this season, or 97 percent of games available, sixth most since he entered the league
• 1 Cup

By Alex Hayes (@smoothandsaucy) on December 15, 2018
Capitals recall Tyler Lewington from Hershey Bears

Headline photo: Washington Capitals

The Capitals recalled defenseman Tyler Lewington from the Hershey Bears on Saturday morning. This is the first career call-up for the 24-year-old defenseman. The Capitals re-signed Lewington to a two-year, $650,000 AAV contract in May.

Lewington’s call-up comes after Christian Djoos underwent surgery on his left thigh on Friday. With Brooks Orpik still rehabbing a long-term injury and Djoos out for a “substantial number of weeks”, the Capitals’ blue line will have to dig deep.

Lewington will likely be the extra seventh defenseman, as Madison Bowey and Jonas Siegenthaler will see a substantial increase in their ice time and responsibilities.


More from the Capitals:

    The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Tyler Lewington from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

    Lewington, 24, has recorded six points (2g, 4a) in 26 games with Hershey this season and is one of two defensemen to play in every game. Additionally, the 6’2″, 200-pound defenseman has recorded 67 penalty minutes, which leads the Bears and ranks third in the AHL.

    The Edmonton, Alb., native recorded 11 points (2g, 9a) in 71 games last season. Lewington ranked third in the AHL in penalty minutes (149) and third among Hershey defensemen in games played. Lewington is the only player in the AHL to rank in the top five in penalty minutes in each of the previous two seasons. In 211 career games with Hershey, Lewington has 40 points (11g, 29a) and 447 penalty minutes.

    Lewington was drafted by the Capitals in the seventh round, 204th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft after spending four seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

[Pavel095]

Waiting hat trick from Ovi

[Maacoshark]

   I didnt realize we played tonight until now. Interesting call up. I guess Lewington is next in line because of experience. Johansen and Hobbs likely aren't ready. Maybe Lewington will get in some games and add some much needed physical play.

[Mickstix]

I was reading somewhere (twitter most likely) that Reirden said he'd be getting guys in games, even if it was only 1 game, so no matter what they could say they'd "played in the NHL".. Not sure I like that tactic, but that's what I read.. So, if Lewington stays up a minute, I imagine he'll get in a game.


And again, what the hell kind of "complication" could cause Djoos to have his thigh operated on? 

[Maacoshark]

I was reading somewhere (twitter most likely) that Reirden said he'd be getting guys in games, even if it was only 1 game, so no matter what they could say they'd "played in the NHL".. Not sure I like that tactic, but that's what I read.. So, if Lewington stays up a minute, I imagine he'll get in a game.


And again, what the hell kind of "complication" could cause Djoos to have his thigh operated on? 

    May as well get him some time while he is up.

[alta]

Bura is done here, no other reason to be scratched 3 games in a row. Unless he’s injured, but I doubt that

[Mickstix]

Yea, GMBM shopping him around like "Please, we'll take a pair of skate laces for the kid".. The league's like "1 lace, not the pair"   

[BlackIce]

Bura is done here, no other reason to be scratched 3 games in a row. Unless he’s injured, but I doubt that

We don't know the Reirden MO in this regard.  It could be that he is going to sit Bura for a moderate length of time, especially as long as the team keeps winning, hoping that when he does get back in the lineup he will be re-energized.


The problem with trading Bura is that if a forward or two gets injured there is almost no one from Hershey to bring up and plug in.  Boyd and Barber are about it.  At some point you might need to plug Bura back in, for better or worse.

[alta]

looks like it’s 99.1fm tonight, there is nfl on 106.7

[Surreylily]

Good morning all.   

[ArJunaZ]

Damn Kempny!! Do we always have to start with a dumb penalty?

[ArJunaZ]

[Pavel095]

Nice goal 

[alta]

easiest goal of Conno’s career

[Mickstix]

Damn, miss 5 minutes and 2 goals.. As normal. Can we go a game w/o giving up one in the first couple shifts? 

[Mickstix]

Nice hit in the back, ignored.. 

[ArJunaZ]

[Mickstix]

The Snake!!

[Pavel095]

What a blast by vrana!

[Surreylily]

What a bomb of a shot!