GAME THREAD: NHL: BUFFALO (10-11) at WASHINGTON (8-15)

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Buffalo 1 2 --3
Washington 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Michael Ryan 2 (Jochen Hecht,
Brian Campbell), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32;
M Bradley, Was (tripping), 13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Buffalo 9 12 --21
Washington 9 13 --22
----------------------------------

Goalies : Buffalo, Ryan Miller (22 shots, 21 saves). Washington, Olaf
Kolzig (21 shots, 18 saves). Referees: Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser.
Linesmen: Tare Mark, Tim Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1 14:30 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1 8:13 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1 3:15 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUFFALO 1 2 0 3
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: BUF - JOCHEN HECHT 7 (BRIAN CAMPBELL, JAROSLAV SPACEK) 10:55
2ND PRD: WAS - ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 17 (STEVE EMINGER) 0:49
BUF - JOCHEN HECHT 7 (DANIEL PAILLE) 8:07
BUF - JASON POMINVILLE 6 (JOCHEN HECHT) 11:47
3RD PRD: NONE

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: BUF - 0 OF 3, WAS - 0 OF 2.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
BUF 9 12 7 28
WAS 9 13 9 31

GOALIES: BUF - RYAN MILLER
WAS - OLAF KOLZIG

OFFICIALS: REF - CHRIS LEE, KERRY FRASER
LIN - TARE MARK, TIM NOWAK

ATT: 11,204</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Buffalo 1 2 0 --3
Washington 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Brian Campbell,
Jaroslav Spacek), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32;
M Bradley, Was (tripping), 13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: M Afinogenov, Buf (slashing), 5:36.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Buffalo 9 12 7 --28
Washington 9 13 9 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Buffalo - 0 of 3, Washington - 0 of 2. Goalies
: Buffalo, Ryan Miller (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 9-9-1).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 7-11-0). A:
11,204. Referees: Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Tare Mark, Tim
Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1</div>

 

By Tim Hipps
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


WASHINGTON (Ticker) - Jochen Hecht had two goals and an assistto lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 victory over the WashingtonCapitals on Monday.


Alex Ovechkin tallied his team-leading 17th goal for theCapitals, who had won two straight since interim coach BruceBoudreau took over for Glen Hanlon on Thanksgiving Day.

Ryan Miller stopped 30 shots for Buffalo, which has won fivestraight overall, and six of the last seven meetings withWashington here.


However, it was a much closer affair then the last meeting onOctober 13 in which the Capitals allowed 53 shots and in a 7-3loss.


Hecht delivered the game-winner with his seventh goal of theseason at 8:07 of the second period off an assist from DanielPaille. Hecht took a pass from Paille on the left side of thenet and poked it past Olaf Kolzig for a 2-1 lead.


Hecht helped extend the lead, as stole a pass at the blue lineand made a beautiful cross-ice pass to Jason Pominville, whosefirst goal in 14 games gave the Sabres a 3-1 lead at 11:47 ofthe second period.


Ovechkin tied the game at 1-1 just 49 seconds into the secondperiod as he banged home his own rebound from the right side.The third-year pro swept in from the left wing and fired a shotinto the pads of Miller and put back his own miss.

The Sabres opened the scoring in the first period as Hechtcircled behind the net and scored to give the Sabres a 1-0 leadat 10:55.


Kolzig stopped 25 shots for Washington, which failed to convertany of its three power-play opportunities.

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Buffalo 1 2 0 --3
Washington 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Brian Campbell,
Jaroslav Spacek), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; M Bradley, Was (tripping),
13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: M Afinogenov, Buf (slashing), 5:36; M
Afinogenov, Buf (high sticking), 8:38.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Buffalo 9 12 7 --28
Washington 9 13 9 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Buffalo - 0 of 3, Washington - 0 of 3. Goalies
: Buffalo, Ryan Miller (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 9-9-1).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 7-11-0). A:
11,204. Referees: Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Tim
Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
BUFFALO 1 2 0 --3
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Brian Campbell,
Jaroslav Spacek), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; M Bradley, Was (tripping),
13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: M Afinogenov, Buf (slashing), 5:36; M
Afinogenov, Buf (high sticking), 8:38.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
BUFFALO 9 12 7 --28
WASHINGTON 9 13 9 --31
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: BUF - 0 of 3, WAS - 0 of 3. Goalies : Buffalo,
Ryan Miller (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 9-9-1). Washington, Olaf
Kolzig (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 7-11-0). A: 11,204. Referees:
Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Tim Nowak.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

BUFFALO WASHINGTON
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Kotalik 0 0 even 1 M Bradley 0 0 even 1
T Connolly 0 0 even 0 B Gordon 0 0 even 2
D Paille 0 1 +3 4 C Clark 0 0 even 0
T Vanek 0 0 even 3 N Backstrom 0 0 even 2
P Gaustad 0 0 even 1 B Pothier 0 0 even 1
J Pominville 1 0 even 4 B Laich 0 0 even 1
M Ryan 0 0 +2 0 V Kozlov 0 0 even 0
N Paetsch 0 0 even 0 S Morrisonn 0 0 even 0
N Pratt 0 0 even 0 A Semin 0 0 -2 3
C MacArthur 0 0 -1 1 T Poti 0 0 even 1
A Sekera 0 0 +2 0 D Steckel 0 0 even 4
T Lydman 0 0 +1 2 J Erskine 0 0 -2 0
B Campbell 0 1 +1 2 T Fleischmann 0 0 -2 2
J Hecht 2 1 +2 3 S Eminger 0 1 -2 1
J Spacek 0 1 even 2 M Green 0 0 even 0
M Afinogenov 0 0 even 2 A Ovechkin 1 0 even 9
A Peters 0 0 even 1 D Brashear 0 0 even 1
D Roy 0 0 even 2 M Nylander 0 0 -2 3
A Mair RIGHT KNEE M Pettinger HEALTHY
H Tallinder HEALTHY M Jurcina HEALTHY
D Stafford SHOULDER J Schultz HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
BUFFALO 3
WASHINGTON 1</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Buffalo 1 2 0 --3
Washington 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Brian Campbell,
Jaroslav Spacek), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; M Bradley, Was (tripping),
13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: M Afinogenov, Buf (slashing), 5:36; M
Afinogenov, Buf (high sticking), 8:38.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Buffalo 9 12 7 --28
Washington 9 13 9 --31
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Buffalo - 0 of 3, Washington - 0 of 3. Goalies
: Buffalo, Ryan Miller (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 9-9-1).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 7-11-0). A:
11,204. Referees: Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Tim
Nowak.</div>

 

NHL: BUFFALO at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
BUFFALO 1 2 0 --3
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Brian Campbell,
Jaroslav Spacek), 10:55. Penalties: A Peters, Buf (major fighting),
1:56; J Erskine, Was (major fighting), 1:56; T Lydman, Buf (hooking),
2:29; V Kozlov, Was (tripping), 8:32; M Bradley, Was (tripping),
13:02.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 17 (Steve
Eminger), 0:49. 3, Buffalo, Jochen Hecht 7 (Daniel Paille), 8:07. 4,
Buffalo, Jason Pominville 6 (Jochen Hecht), 11:47. Penalties: M
Bradley, Was (slashing), 5:40.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: M Afinogenov, Buf (slashing), 5:36; M
Afinogenov, Buf (high sticking), 8:38.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
BUFFALO 9 12 7 --28
WASHINGTON 9 13 9 --31
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: BUF - 0 of 3, WAS - 0 of 3. Goalies : Buffalo,
Ryan Miller (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 9-9-1). Washington, Olaf
Kolzig (28 shots, 25 saves; record: 7-11-0). A: 11,204. Referees:
Chris Lee, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Brian Mach, Tim Nowak.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

BUFFALO WASHINGTON
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
A Kotalik 0 0 even 1 M Bradley 0 0 even 1
T Connolly 0 0 even 0 B Gordon 0 0 even 2
D Paille 0 1 +3 4 C Clark 0 0 even 0
T Vanek 0 0 even 3 N Backstrom 0 0 even 2
P Gaustad 0 0 even 1 B Pothier 0 0 even 1
J Pominville 1 0 even 4 B Laich 0 0 even 1
M Ryan 0 0 +2 0 V Kozlov 0 0 even 0
N Paetsch 0 0 even 0 S Morrisonn 0 0 even 0
N Pratt 0 0 even 0 A Semin 0 0 -2 3
C MacArthur 0 0 -1 1 T Poti 0 0 even 1
A Sekera 0 0 +2 0 D Steckel 0 0 even 4
T Lydman 0 0 +1 2 J Erskine 0 0 -2 0
B Campbell 0 1 +1 2 T Fleischmann 0 0 -2 2
J Hecht 2 1 +2 3 S Eminger 0 1 -2 1
J Spacek 0 1 even 2 M Green 0 0 even 0
M Afinogenov 0 0 even 2 A Ovechkin 1 0 even 9
A Peters 0 0 even 1 D Brashear 0 0 even 1
D Roy 0 0 even 2 M Nylander 0 0 -2 3
A Mair RIGHT KNEE M Pettinger HEALTHY
H Tallinder SHOULDER M Jurcina HEALTHY
D Stafford SHOULDER J Schultz HEALTHY</div>

 

By Tim Hipps
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


WASHINGTON (Ticker) - Jochen Hecht had two goals and an assistto lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 victory over the WashingtonCapitals on Monday.


Ryan Miller stopped 30 shots for Buffalo, which has won fivestraight overall, and six of the last seven meetings withWashington here.


"I said before we went on the streak we had two or three gameswe deserved to win that we didn't win," Sabres coach Lindy Ruffsaid. "We did everything but win, and we lost someheart-breaking games where we just didn't score. We couldn'tget a bounce. We couldn't get the puck to go into the net.

"We outplayed, we outshot, and we got nothing for it. We juststayed with it and we got a couple bounces to start the streak,and ever since then, guys have kind of lightened up and playedeven better."


However, it was a much closer affair then the last meeting onOctober 13 in which the Capitals allowed 53 shots in a 7-3 loss.

Hecht delivered the game-winner with his seventh goal of theseason at 8:07 of the second period off an assist from DanielPaille. Hecht took a pass from Paille on the left side of thenet and poked it past Olaf Kolzig for a 2-1 lead.


"I give credit to Dan Paille on that one," Hecht said. "Hebattled hard to get that puck back. He got it back and saw meopen and dished it over there with his backhand, and I just hadto put it past (Kolzig's) pad."


Hecht helped extend the lead, as he stole a pass at the blueline and made a beautiful cross-ice pass to Jason Pominville,whose first goal in 14 games gave the Sabres a 3-1 lead at 11:47of the second period.


Alex Ovechkin tallied his team-leading 17th goal for theCapitals, who had won two straight since interim coach BruceBoudreau took over for Glen Hanlon on Thanksgiving Day.

And while the Sabres felt they haven't been getting any breaks,the same can be said for the Capitals at home recently.

"That's how it is every game with this ice," Washingtondefenseman Tom Poti said. "The ice is pretty embarrassing tosay the least. The puck bounces around like a rubber ball outthere. I guess it's the same for both teams, but it's not themost ideal situation for us."


Thirteen giveaways, two of which led directly to Sabres' goals,also cost the Capitals.


"When we turn it over in deep and we're caught flat-footed andthey're coming down with speed, and bang, it's in the net,"Kolzig said. "Until we clear that up, we're going to havenights like this."


Ovechkin tied the game at 1-1 just 49 seconds into the secondperiod as he banged home his own rebound from the right side.The third-year pro swept in from the left wing and fired a shotinto the pads of Miller and put back his own miss.

"Ovechkin's goal was a highlight reel by a superstar," Ruffsaid. "But at the same time, you've got to be able to score theother ones, too."


The Sabres opened the scoring in the first period as Hechtcircled behind the net and scored to give the Sabres a 1-0 leadat 10:55.


Kolzig stopped 25 shots for Washington, which failed to convertany of its three power-play opportunities.


"It would have been nice to get a couple of those bounces," Potisaid.


"The bottom line is we lost," Kolzig added. "We had two solidgames where we're really feeling good about ourselves, and thento shoot ourselves in the foot is demoralizing."