DC Metro Sports - Caps Turn Game Over To Sabres

Written by Justin Creech
Monday, 26 November 2007
Washington, DC--Game three of the Bruce Boudreau era was a carbon copy of the Glen Hanlon era. The Capitals were unable to play with any consistency and were again doomed by a sloppy second period in a3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last night in front of 11,204 at Verizon Center. Turnovers, as they have been so many times this season, were the story of the game. Two turnovers in the second period were turned into Buffalo goals that ultimately ended up being the difference. "It's still turnovers more than anything," said goaltender Olie Kolzig. "Until we clear that up it doesn't matter who we have behind the bench, doesn't matter who we have in net, doesn't matter who we have on the ice, we're not going to win hockey games. Until guys get it through their heads to get the puck in deep and not commit these turnovers we're going to have nights like this." Michael Nylander was the culprit in Washington's turnover problem. With just under 12 minutes to go in the second period, Nylander attempted to skate out of the zone after picking up a loose puck from Buffalo's Daniel Paille. However, Nylander had the puck knocked back to Paille, who falling to his knees, sent a backhand pass to a wide open Jochen Hecht, who backhanded the puck over Kolzig's right shoulder at 8:07 for the eventual game winner. Three minutes later the Nylander again turned the puck over, this time in the neutral zone. Nylander attempted a drop pass to Tomas Fleischmann that was picked up by Hecht. Hecht skated down the left wing and sent a pass by Capitals defensemen John Erskine that Jason Pominville easily tapped past Kolzig for the 3-1 lead. Hecht finished with two goals and an assist to lead all point getters. "It wasn't our best period," said defensemen Tom Poti of the second period. "We made some bad turnovers that resulted in some goals against. We played pretty well in the first, we took it to them for awhile, and we kind of gave it right back to them in the second." Captain Chris Clark said Washingtonï¿½s turnover problem could possibly be linked to individuals trying to do too much instead of working with their linemates. "Sometimes guys can do a lot and when they don't sometimes it ends up in a turnover," said Clark. "You can do it at certain times, but there are times not to do it and late in periods is one of those times." Interim coach Bruce Bourdreau didn't complain about the intensity his team played with as he said they played just as hard and just as good as the Sabres. Bourdreau, however, felt his team did not play as smart as their counterpart. "You can't have turnovers against a great transition team in the neutral zone," said Bourdreau of Buffalo's strong transition game. "If we had got one I think the emotion would have carried us to get two," said Bourdreau of the Capitals third period effort. "But, we couldn't get that one." Washington's (8-15-1) power play, which had been on fire the last two games going 4-for-7, struggled mightily against the Sabres. The Capitals went 0-for-3 against Buffalo (11-10-1) and were unable to keep the puck in the Sabres zone for long stretches of time with the man advantage. "[Buffalo] had a chance to look at the power play and I think we didnï¿½t attack the net the way we should have," said Bourdreau. "We were looking to make that pass in the middle and make that pass to the far side and [Buffalo] was just sitting there waiting and we were trying to force plays." After jumping out to 3-0 leads in the last two games, Washington allowed Buffalo the game's opening tally. Hecht eluded Erskine and skated around the net to Kolzigï's right. He then backhanded a pass that hit off a Capitals defensemen's leg and slid past Kolzig at 10:55. Washington did tie the game early in the second thanks to more brilliance from Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin skated out of his zone and used a beautiful move to get past Sabres defensemen Brian Campbell. Ovechkin slid the puck between Campbell's legs before firing a shot at Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller. Miller stopped the initial shot, but Ovechking was able to gather his own rebound and but it past a diving Miller for the goal 49 seconds into the second period. The goal was Ovechkin's 17th of the season as he extended his point-scoring streak to nine games. It is Ovechkin's longest since scoring in 13 straight games from Jan. 1 to Feb. 1, 2007.

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