from sabres.com Washington Capitals forward Alexander Semin has never registered a point in Buffalo. His coach and teammates have a strong feeling that could change.
Semin and the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals look to extend their season-high winning streak to seven Saturday when the Buffalo Sabres try to use momentum from a solid trip to post their first victory at HSBC Arena.
Third in scoring behind teammates Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom during each of the past two seasons, Semin has been the Capitals' No. 1 scoring option lately. The 26-year-old, who leads the club with 12 goals - three more than Ovechkin - has scored seven times and notched six assists during the winning streak.
Semin recorded his second hat trick of the season and matched a career high with five points in Thursday's 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay. He had three goals and an assist in the final 15:27.
"(Semin) is pretty on right now," said coach Bruce Boudreau, whose team is scoring 5.0 goals per game - 1.4 more than its league-leading average - during its surge.
Semin has no points in six career games visiting the Sabres, but his teammates wouldn't be surprised if he makes a major impact in this matchup.
"He's a sniper out there," said Backstrom, who equaled a career best with four assists Thursday and is tied with Ovechkin with a team-high 14. "He can score. I haven't seen Alex play as well as he is right now."
While Washington (12-4-0) tries to reach the midway point of its franchise-record 14-game run that ended Feb. 10, the Sabres (5-9-3) open a home-heavy portion of their schedule with plenty of confidence.
Despite reigning Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller being sidelined with a knee injury, Buffalo earned five of six points on a trip that ended Thursday with a 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers.
"It's something to build off of," rookie Jhonas Enroth said after turning away 25 shots in his third consecutive start. "Hopefully we can take how we play on the road back home."
The Sabres, who will travel just twice for the rest of the month - including a matchup in the nation's capital Wednesday - will likely have Miller in net for the first time in seven games as they try to snap their worst home start (0-6-1) since 1993-94.
Outscored 25-13 at HSBC Arena, Buffalo will look for a better conversion rate on the power play after going 0 for 11 in its last four games overall.
The Sabres, though, have killed 15 of 16 power-play chances in November. That success could be tested against a Capitals club that's 9 for 22 with the man advantage during its winning streak.
Semin leads Washington with four power-play goals, while Ovechkin, Backstrom, Brooks Laich and defenseman Mike Green have two apiece.
Ovechkin, who has five goals and 10 assists during an eight-game point streak, has no points in his last three games in Buffalo.
Sabres leading scorer Derek Roy scored twice and added three assists on the road trip, but he has been held scoreless in the last three home games.
Michal Neuvirth is 4-0-0 in five starts during Washington's win streak despite posting a 3.05 goals-against average.
_________________ PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.
Lastly, fuck the Caps. Fuck their bandwagon fans (second only to the Blackhawks bandwagon fans). And third, fuck Semin's "Donkey Kong" fighting style.
I'm on the Semin bandwagon...
_________________ "Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!" Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.
"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.
As I told you on Facebook, just needs practice, you still are very nervous speaking in front of the camera.
But, fuck the caps, lets keep OV and Semin pointless against us for a few more games. And Lets get Miller a home win also.
_________________
CriminallyVu1gar wrote:
No need for violence, just tell her she's got a game misconduct and show her the door.
Rud wrote:
As I said in the GDT, the call on Rivet was horseshit. The Bruins player was holding onto Rivet's stick like it was the last fucking raft on the Titanic.
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:35 pm Posts: 4998 Location: In your head, producing very weird thoughts.
Either the feeling in my gut says we're winning this one, or I should head for the toilet because my breakfast is on the freeway that is my bowels as we speak. I'm thinking 4-1 Buffalo, or that I should stay away from oat-cakes after a night of drinking imported beer.
Maybe both would be a good idea?
And yes, Fuck the Caps.
_________________ If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI
He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy
_________________ "Call a cop he robbed Delmore blind!!!" Rick Jeanerette after Marty Biron's diving save back in 2000.
"I'm going to go to the spa and have a hot tub and massage and relax," Miller said. "That's it, and it's back to work tomorrow." Ryan Miller after clinching the North East division.
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