The Sabres dominated the play in the first period. They had a few grade-A chances including a two on one with Jack Eichel and Jordan Nolan. Philipp Grubauer was up to the task and kept his team in the game early. Buffalo went to the locker room after the first 20 minutes with a 15-4 lead in the shots.
The second period started off well for the Sabres as well. Eichel found Evander Kane in front for his eighth of the season to put the home team ahead early in the period. Buffalo continued to control the play for the first half of the middle frame.
Jack won the faceoff.
Won a battle.
Put the puck on Evander’s stick.
#9 did the rest.#Sabres pic.twitter.com/nGisvGV3Ey— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 8, 2017
The game started to turn after a big hit by Tom Wilson on Sam Reinhart. Jake McCabe immediately addressed the hit and dropped the gloves with the Sabres. However, the hit and fight seemed to wake up the Capitals. They hemmed the Sabres in their own end for over a minute after the fight. Eventually, Washington got on the board with a goal from Alex Ovechkin. After 40 minutes the two teams were tied at one, but the Sabres held a shot advantage of 24-14.
Early in the third period Benoit Pouliot scored perhaps the goal season so far to put the Sabres ahead 2-1. He went end to end with a nice move around the Capitals defender and then beat Grubauer high glove for his fifth of the season.
Beni making this look easy 😱 pic.twitter.com/3zq92KxHcd
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 8, 2017
The Sabres had a few chances to ice it with the man advantage, but went 0-4 on the night. After taking the lead they really kept the Capitals from any real dangerous scoring opportunities. When shots did get through and the heat picked up in the final two minutes Lehner was there to preserve the lead and win for the Sabres. Kane would score an empty netter with 20 seconds remaining to ice the game.
FINAL: Sabres 3 | Capitals 1
Sabres Goal Scorers: Kane (8,9) | Pouliot (5)
Capitals Goal Scorers: Ovechkin (13)
Three Stars:
1. Evander Kane (2 G)
2. Benoit Pouliot (1 G, GWG)
3. Robin Lehner (24 saves on 25 shots)
What to Watch
1. Nick Baptiste will make his season debut.
Baptiste played a team low 8:47 tonight skating with Reinhart and Griffith primarily.
2. Still hurting on defense.
The defense looked pretty good holding the Capitals to 25 shots and only one goal.
3. Lehner has an opportunity for redemption.
Strong come back game making 24 saves on 25 shots.
Comment of the Game:
Dude Is Eichel teaching Pouliot or what?
Hes been looking a lot like him lately, using that snap shot and screen to score after bringing it end to end.
That wasn’t the first time either.
Good stuff, might be a good surprise this season if he keeps this up.
by FaramirRat on Nov 7, 2017 | 9:03 PM reply rec flag actions