The Washington Capitals celebrated another Eras Night on Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres. The “Coming of Age Era” proceedings included a joint puck drop from alumni: Mike Gartner, Alan May, Craig Laughlin, Rod Langway, Ken Sabourin, and David Poile. Would the alumni bring good luck?
Jason Zucker unknowingly deflected the Sabres into the lead just 96 seconds into the first period. Tom Wilson tied the game with a power-play goal. Wilson struck again to give the Capitals a shortlived lead before Jiri Kulich tipped home a tying marker.
Dylan Strome gave Washington their lead back over halfway through the third. Jakob Chychrun grabbed an empty netter.
Capitals beat Sabres 4-2!
- The Sabres are a sneaky team that the Capitals have struggled with in recent years, so the early deficit felt a little like deja vu. However, Washington bounced back nicely from that unlucky goal and controlled the majority of the first frame. They finished with double the number of shots (12-6) and got their power play back on track for the tying goal.
- Tom Wilson has really ramped his production back up with Alex Ovechkin out of the lineup. In his last nine games, Wilson has 10 points (7g, 3a). He is now the team leader in power-play goals this season with six, leaping over Ovechkin (4). Maybe he’ll never take the bubble off.
- Really great speed and drive to the net from Brandon Duhaime to draw that first power play. The fourth line owes the Capitals about 10 more calls in a row. We’re not holding that later “boarding” call against Duhaime as that was just simply not boarding. Beck Malenstyn turned at the very last second.
Coming of Age Era!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/pfjnRXFimf
— Slapshot (@Caps_Slapshot) December 15, 2024
- Pretty rough second period in terms of sloppiness defensively from the Capitals. They let Buffalo see way too much of Logan Thompson unimpeded and were lucky that Thompson has magnets in his pads on breakaways this season.
- Martin Fehervary got into his second career NHL fight. Dylan Cozens, you are no longer invited to the Marty Party. I give the decision to Fehervary, he landed the only shots and got the takedown.
- Not often can you directly blame the on-ice officials for an injury but that was utter incompetence to not blow their whistles on that extended scrum. Thankfully, Rasmus Sandin was able to come back for the third period. I’m not sure how teams go about reporting stuff to the league, but that play legitimately should be something they try to send up the ladder.
- How did Lars Eller miss that empty net? It looks like he almost double-hit the puck.
Someone in the stands has started a "we want nuggets" chant in the final minute of the period—love it.
— Katie Adler (@katieEadler) December 15, 2024
- Great third period. They really turned it on at the end to move back atop the Eastern Conference.
- This was Washington’s first regulation win against the Sabres since November 8, 2021. Wilson also had two goals in that 5-3 win, backstopped by Vitek Vanecek. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby also made his NHL debut.
- Three huge assists from John Carlson. He has found another gear this year. His second helper came on Dylan Strome’s 10th goal of the season. Strome is the fifth Capitals player with double digits in goals.
Here's your #joebsuitofthenight before the first period is over pic.twitter.com/9YuouJkLjS
— RMNB (@rmnb) December 15, 2024
The Capitals will practice at home on Sunday before heading out on the road for a back-to-back against the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. They won’t be back home for a game until Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
