The Buffalo Sabres return to action tonight after the holiday break against the Washington Capitals at the First Niagara Center. Its the second meeting of the season for the two clubs and the first of two games of a home and home series this week. Buffalo won the first game in Buffalo back on November 26, 2011, 5-1. Of course a lot has changed since then with the Capitals getting a new head coach, Dale Hunter, and the Sabres continuing to add players to the injured reserve list.
With leading goal scorer Thomas Vanek questionable for tonight's game with an upper body injury, the rest of the Sabres forwards need to step and start contributing to the scoresheet. A lot of the load will be expected to be carried by center Derek Roy. Roy leads the team in points against Washington with 23 points in 25 games in addition to the team being 11-2-3 when he records a point this season. There have only been 5 games this season that the Sabres have won without Roy getting a goal or an assist.
The Sabres will also look to its youthful roster of fill in players from Rochester to help stop some of the Capitals leading scorers from adding to their stat sheets. Captain Alex Ovechkin has had success against Buffalo in his career with 26 points in 24 games. Also the Capitals' leader in points, Nicklas Backstrom is looking for a career milestone 100th goal tonight.
With both the Sabres and Capitals fighting to keep from slipping out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, tonight's game should prove to be an entraining one. Its still a long way to April, but every point earned now is less pressure latter.
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