Archives for March 27, 2012

‘The loser’s chance at the playoffs will be diminished. A loss in Verizon Center won’t be a death knell by any means, but it will feel like a karate chop to the temple.’

‘Holtby is 2-0-1 with a 1.30 goals-against average and .955 save percentage since the call-up, numbers that have boosted the Capitals’ confidence in the rookie. The team is expected to start him again tonight when the Buffalo Sabres visit Verizon Center in a showdown for eighth place.’

‘“It’s a huge game,” Sabres defenseman Robyn Regehr said Monday inside the First Niagara Center. “To say it’s a big game is an understatement. It’s the biggest game we’ve faced all year. We just have to make sure we’re playing the way we have been. You don’t want to get yourself too worked up.”’

‘Miller allowed only five goals during the week and just two during his last three starts. He recorded his career-high sixth shutout in a 3-0 win Wednesday over Montreal.’

Sabres ‘going to empty the tank’ vs. Capitals tonight (Washington Post)
Ryan Miller, balanced offense have led to Sabres push up the standings (Washington Post)
Now’s not the time for the Capitals to get rattled by the Sabres (Washington Times)
Chance at postseason possibly is on the line for Capitals (Washington Examiner)
Buffalo (37-29-10) at Washington (38-30-8) (AP)
Buffalo Sabres (37-29-10) at Washington Capitals (38-30-8) (The Sports Network)
Capitals challenge Sabres in battle for eighth seed (NHL.com)
Caps And Sabres Battle for Control of Playoff Destiny (WashingtonCaps.com)

‘Regehr can appreciate how much adversity—injuries, criticism, and a franchise-worst road skid—the Sabres have already overcome. He had difficulty quantifying how significant this next test is by saying, calling it a big game would be an understatement.’

‘A regulation loss wouldn’t mean the end of the line for the Sabres, but given the tiebreaker advantage Washington enjoys, it would put the Sabres in the position of having to make up 3 points on the Caps with only 5 games left to play.’