[open thread] Game 4: Sabres vs. Capitals

TV: MSG Radio: WGR55

I will be here for the game but could be late arriving home this afternoon so I thought I'd put up the open thread early for this game.  Feel free to leave comments prior to the game if you want to.

Sabres Notes:

Coming off a solid 6-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers...Tim Connolly and Brian Campbell each had three points against the Thrashers...Ryan Miller earned his first shutout of the season, stopping 20 shots against Atlanta...Henrik Tallinder is a minus 4 in the first three games of the season...Paul Gaustad leads the team with nine penalty minutes after a fight against Eric Boulton late in the last game...Jason Pominville has a team high 12 shots but only has one goal...Jochen Hecht remains the team captain for the month of October...Tonight's game will be the second of a four game home stand...Ryan Miller is 4-1 and has a shutout in his career against Washington.

Capitals Notes:

Suffered their first defeat 3-1 to the NY Rangers last night...Backup netminder Brent Johnson is expected to start for Washington...Acquired Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov as unrestricted free agents in the off-season...Alexander Ovechkin scored the Capitals only goal against the Rangers...Ovechkin has a point in every game this season...Ovechkin's goal against the Rangers gives him 100 for his career...Alex semin may not play due to an ankle injury.

Fast Fact:

The Capitals haven't won at HSBC Arena since March 4, 2003 but beat Buffalo at Blue Cross Arena on October 26, 2005.  The Rochester game was considered a home game for the Sabres.

Team Leaders

Buffalo Sabres

• Goals: Jaroslav Spacek, Derek Roy 2

• Points: Brian Campbell 5

• +/-: Brian Campbell +4

• PIM: Paul Gaustad 9

• Wins: Ryan Miller 1

• Save %: Ryan Miller .885

• GAA: Ryan Miller 3.03

Washington Capitals

• Goals: Alexander Ovechkin, Viktor Kozlov 2

• Points: Alexander Ovechkin 4

• +/-: John Erskine, Brian Pothier +3

• PIM: John Erskine, Chris Clark 8

• Wins: Olaf Kolzig 2

• Save %: Brent Johnson .966

• GAA: Brent Johnson 1.00

Projected Line combinations

Buffalo Forwards
26-Vanek, 9-Roy, 21-Stafford
55-Hecht, 19-Connolly, 29-Pominville
61-Afinogenov, 28-Gaustad, 12-Kotalik
20-Paille, 22-Mair, 37-Ryan

Buffalo Defensemen
6-Spacek, 51-Campbell
5-Lydman, 10-Tallinder
38-Paetsch, 45-Kalinin

Goaltenders
30-Miller, 35-Thibault

Washington Forwards
8-Ovechkin, 25-Kozlov, 17-Clark
19-Backstrom, 92-Nylander, 18-Pettinger
21-Laich, 39-Steckel, 10-Bradley
87-Brashear, 16-Sutherby, 50-Motzko

Washington Defensemen
3-Poti, 52-Green
23-Jurcina, 26-Morrisonn
2-Pothier, 4-Erskine

Goaltenders
1-Johnson, 37-Kolzig

As per usual this thread is meant to spur conversation and create a Buffalo Sabres community.  If you're watching the game you might as well join us and chat a little bit.  I highly recommend you create a free account and grab a beer and join us for some good conversation.