buff/wash info

[Aces High]

Buffalo Sabres (18-30-8-5) at Washington Capitals (29-25-7-3), 7 p.m.

(Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals try to package together some momentum tonight when they welcome the Buffalo Sabres to MCI Center.

Washington, which leads the Southeast Division by one over Tampa Bay, snapped a three-game losing streak with Monday's 4-1 victory over Montreal in the third portion of a four-game homestand. Peter Bondra and Ivan Ciernik posted a goal and an assist apiece, and Steve Konowalchuk and Jaromir Jagr tallied as well. Olaf Kolzig finished with 25 saves after allowing a total of 14 goals in his previous three starts.

Bondra's solid night was a ray of hope for the Caps, who haven't seen typical production from the Slovakian sniper all season. He had managed a mere assist in the previous seven matches, and has 23 goals and 17 assists on the campaign. Bondra's power-play stats have really dipped, as he has just seven man-advantage tallies after combining for 39 the last two years.

Washington's power play as a unit has struggled recently, going 0-for-18 in the last six games. The Caps are 1-for-29 -- 3.4 percent -- in their last 10 tilts.

The Capitals, who have lost three of their last four on home ice, will visit the Atlantic Division-leading New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Buffalo, meanwhile, is 3-1-1-1 in its last six tries, including Monday's 2-2 tie with Florida in the second portion of a three-game road trip. Maxim Afinogenov and Miroslav Satan both found the net, but the Panthers' Jaroslav Bednar tied the score with 2:06 left in regulation. Martin Biron finished with 29 saves, including five in overtime.

Satan's marker was his fourth in six games after an eight-match drought. He leads the team with 22 goals, 29 assists and 51 points.

Buffalo made a trade Tuesday, sending forward Vaclav Varada a fifth-round pick in the 2003 draft to Ottawa in exchange for center Jakub Klepis, who was the 16th overall selection in last year's draft.

The Sabres, 1-3-1-3 in their last eight away from home, will host Dallas on Friday.

Buffalo and Washington have split two meetings this season, both teams winning in their own rink. The Capitals have won three of the last four meetings, and snapped a five-game home winless streak (0-3-2) in the series on December 30.

2002-03 Head-to-head-record Tied 1-1 (Buf 1-0 at Home; 0-1 at Was)
2001-02 Head-to-head record Tied 2-2 (Buf 0-2 at Home; 2-0 at Was)
2000-01 Head-to-head record Buffalo 2-1-1 (1-1 at Buf; 1-0-1 at Was)
1999-00 Head-to-head record Washington 2-1-1 (1-1 at Buf; 1-0-1 at Was)
Home Record Buffalo 11-14-4-1; Washington 18-11-1-2
Away Record Buffalo 7-16-4-4; Washington 11-14-6-1
Record vs. Southeast Division Buffalo 3-4-2-1
Record vs. Northeast Division Washington 3-8-2-0
Record vs. Eastern Conference Buffalo 14-20-4-4; Washington 25-16-4-2

2002-2003 Meetings
12/07 - Buffalo, 4-3 (at Buf)
12/30 - Washington, 4-3 (at Was)

2001-2002 Meetings
11/28 - Buffalo, 5-2 (at Was)
01/27 - Buffalo, 3-2 ot (at Was)
03/26 - Washington, 4-3 (at Buf)
04/12 - Washington, 3-1 (at Buf)

2000-2001 Meetings
12/20 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Was)
12/21 - Washington, 3-1 (at Buf)
03/17 - Buffalo, 3-2 (at Was)
04/06 - Buffalo, 2-1 (at Buf)

Game Notes
Note - The road team is 6-3-2 in the last 11 meetings.
Note - Washington has won three of the last four meetings.
Note - Buffalo has won five of the last eight meetings.
Note - These two teams are 6-6-2 in the last 14 meetings.
Note - Washington snapped a five-game series home winless streak on 12/30/02.
Note - Buffalo is 3-1-2 in its last six at Washington.
Note - These two teams are 3-3-2 in the last eight meetings at Washington.
Note - Buffalo is 8-4-2 in its last 14 at Washington.
Note - Buffalo snapped a two-game series home losing streak on 12/07/02.
Note - Washington has won three of five and six of its last 10 at Buffalo.
Note - Buffalo is 3-7-1-3 in its last 14 games.
Note - Buffalo is 1-3-1-3 in its last eight road games.
Note - Washington has lost four of six and five of its last eight games.
Note - Washington has lost three of four and four of its last six home games.

Buffalo last five games Washington last five games

02/17 - L at Atlanta, 3-4 ot 02/15 - W at Florida, 2-1
02/19 - W vs. Montreal, 2-1 ot 02/17 - L at Tampa Bay, 1-3
02/21 - L vs. Los Angeles, 1-4 02/20 - L vs. Toronto, 2-6
02/23 - W at Tampa Bay, 4-1 02/22 - L vs. Detroit, 1-5
02/24 - T at Florida, 2-2 ot 02/24 - W vs. Montreal, 4-1

 

[Aces High]

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Capitals look to take advantage of a favorable portion of their schedule when they conclude a four-game homestand on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.

Before the Capitals close out the regular season with nine of their final 13 games against teams with at least a .500 record, they will play four of their next five against teams with losing records.

Washington stopped a three-game losing streakimproved to 19-7-5-2 against teams below the break-even mark with Monday's 4-1 win over Montreal. Peter Bondra, Jaromir Jagr, Steve Konowalchuk and Ivan Ciernik and Olaf Kolzig made 25 saves as Washington improved to 18-11-1-2 at the MCI Center.

The Capitals one point ahead of Tampa Bay for first place in the Southeast Division.

Buffalo is 3-1-1-1 in its last six games and made a trade Tuesday with another financially struggling team. The Sabres dealt right wing Vaclav Varada and a 2003 fifth-round pick to Ottawa for 18-year-old center Jakub Klepis, who was the Senators' 2002 first-round pick.

Varada's $1.3 million salary ranked 10th on the team and he recently returned from a sprained right knee.

On Monday, the Sabres blew a pair of leads and settled for a 2-2 tie with Florida. Maxim Afinogenov and Miroslav Satan tallied for the second straight game, while Martin Biron stopped 29 shots, including five in overtime as Buffalo was shorthanded for the first two minutes.

The Capitals and Sabres have split a pair of 4-3 decisions this season, with Washington winning here on December 30.



Looking to strengthen their grip on first place in the Southeast Division, the Washington Capitals try to post back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly a month when they face the Buffalo Sabres.
Washington ended a three-game losing streak Sunday with a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, as Peter Bondra and Ivan Ciernik each had a goal and an assist.

Struggling to generate offense, Washington has switched to a defensive scheme -- the same style that helped the team gain a point in 14 straight games in December and January.

Coach Bruce Cassidy hopes his team will embrace the different approach.

``We're going to find out,'' he said. ``It's what we're looking for, what we've been looking for. I think we can because we did it six or eight weeks (ago).''

Ciernik's goal 9:08 into the game staked the Caps to a 1-0 lead and helped them improve to 21-5-3-3 when scoring first.

``It helps when you score first if you're going to be patient,'' Cassidy said. ``That's one of the issues with our club. If we don't score first and we're trying to play patient sometimes we get away from it.''

Bondra's goal was particularly important because he had gone seven games without scoring, collecting just one assist in that span.

``You have to put pressure on yourself to score -- it's my job,'' Bondra said. ``But things don't always go well for you.''

Washington begins a very favorable portion of its schedule Wednesday. Four of the Caps' next five games are against teams out of the playoff race, including two meetings with Buffalo.

Though the Sabres are battling Atlanta to avoid having the league's worst record, they are proving to be a problem for opponents of late.

Maxim Afinogenov and Miroslav Satan each scored for the second time in two games as Buffalo skated to a 2-2 tie with the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Martin Biron made 29 saves for Buffalo, 3-1-1-1 in its last six.

Biron has stopped 59 of 62 shots in his last two starts. Backup Mika Noronen was originally scheduled to start Wednesday, but Biron's play may have changed coach Lindy Ruff's mind.

``It was back-to-back very good games,'' Ruff said of Biron. ``We've been looking for Biron to get on a roll.''

STANDINGS (through Feb. 24): Sabres - 49 points, 5th place, 37 PB, Northeast Division. Capitals - 68 points, 1st place, Southeast Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Sabres - Satan, 22 goals, 29 assists and 51 points; Eric Boulton, 132 PIM. Capitals - Jaromir Jagr, 33 goals and 68 points; Sergei Gonchar, 39 assists; Brendan Witt, 88 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS (through Feb. 24): Sabres - Power play: 12.7 percent (34 for 268), 28th in NHL. Penalty killing: 84.9 percent (230 for 271), 10th. Capitals - Power play: 18.3 percent (48 for 263), 6th. Penalty killing: 81.9 percent (253 for 309), 24th.

GOALTENDERS: Sabres - Biron (12-21-6, 4 SO, 2.43 GAA); Noronen (0-6-1, 1, 3.54). Capitals - Olaf Kolzig (24-20-5, 2, 2.39); Sebastien Charpentier (4-5-1, 2.61).

SEASON SERIES: 1-1.

LAST MEETING: Dec. 30; Capitals, 4-3. At Washington, Jagr snapped a tie early in the third period and Dainius Zubrus had a goal and an assist for the Caps.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS
Sabres - 7-16-4-4 on the road
Capitals - 18-11-1-2 at home.