The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Caps vs. Sabres, December 14th

The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!!

For the first time since the first three games of the season, the Caps have a three-game winning streak. And it's not like they're beating a bunch of slugs - the wins were over Atlanta (a playoff team last year and playing much better than their 0-6-0 start), the Devils (who had been on a long points-earned streak), and the Rangers (who had yielded only one goal to the Caps in two games this year).

Speaking of slugs, the schedule doesn't get any easier tonight with a game against the "Buffa-slugs" themselves, the Buffalo Sabres.

"You know...Buffalo is the home of the 'buffalo wing.'"

Welcome to the show...would you please introduce yourself to our audience...

"My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue, but people call me 'Bubba.' Just like one of them ol' redneck boys. Can you believe that?"

People call me Peerless...Peerless Prognosticator. Didn't you used to dabble in shrimp?

"I don't know what 'dabble' means, but I gave up shrimp...they're too high in cholesterol. Anyway, like I was sayin', wings come from chickens, and chicken is the fruit of the barnyard. You can barbecue 'em, boil 'em, broil 'em, bake 'em, saute 'em..."

Yes, well...that's quite interesting, but as for the game, the Caps are hosting a Buffalo Sabres team that is not exactly in the place in the standings they have become accustomed to occupying the last couple of years. 14-14-1 and with 29 points – tied for 12^th in the Eastern Conference with Atlanta – is not where the Sabres and their fans expected to be more than a third into the season.

"...Dey's uh, chicken wing-kabobs, chicken wing creole, chicken wing gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried..."

Yeah, yeah…they’re great. No, not the Sabres…since Buffalo was in town on November 26^th – a 3-1 win for the visitors – the Sabres have slipped just a little bit more in the standings. In seven games since that win, the Sabres are 3-4-0. Their record includes posting eight goals in a game (an 8-1 win against Carolina) and yielding eight goals in a game (an 8-2 loss at Los Angeles).

Looking at the offense, it’s been feast or famine. 20 of the 27 goals Buffalo has scored over this stretch came in three games (they also have a 7-1 win at San Jose and a 5-3 win against the Islanders). That leaves seven goals scored in the other four games.

"…Dey's pineapple chicken wings, lemon chicken wings, coconut chicken wings, pepper chicken wings, chicken wings soup, chicken wings stew, chicken wings salad, chicken wings and potatoes, chicken wings burger, boneless chicken wings sandwich..."

Sounds real nice…which is not something that can be said for the Sabres’s special teams. Even though their power play is 7-for-27 over the last seven games (25.9 percent), they’ve actually given up more power play goals. Their 22-for-30 penalty killing (73.3 percent) has been a problem.

Consistent with Buffalo’s balance on offense, 15 skaters have registered the 27 goals. Ales Kotalik leads the way with five of those goals (5-1-6, -2). Thomas Vanek, who has struggled somewhat to live up to the big contract he signed in the wake of an offer sheet tendered by Edmonton and matched by Buffalo (9-10-19, +3 for the season), has contributed three goals (3-0-3, +5), as has Derek Roy (3-4-7, +8).

"…Dey's garlic chicken wings, teriyaki chicken wings, ginger chicken wings, szechuan chicken wings, cayenne chicken wings - dey's mah favorite..."

Jochen Hecht has found the Caps to be among his favorite opponents over his career. In 20 career contests, he is 7-9-16, +4. This year, he’s 2-2-4, +2 in two Buffalo wins against Washington. He’s second on the club this year in goals overall, with 10.

"...honey chicken wings, Jalapeno chicken wings, chicken wings with ranch sauce, chicken wings with blue cheese 'n' hot sauce - that's what them Buffalo folks like..."

What perhaps they haven’t liked is the inconsistency in the play of goaltender Ryan Miller. The former Hobey Baker winner has played in all seven games since appearing in Washington on November 26^th. And except for his allowing three goals in his last outing – a win against the Islanders – he’s given up either one goal (twice) or four (four times)…nothing in between. His career stats against Washington are not extraordinary, compared to his overall career stats (2.72 career GAA/2.68 vs.Washington… .908 career SV/.907 vs. Washington), but he does have a 6-1-0 win-loss record. He’s won both starts this year against the Caps (2-0-0, 2.00, .930).

"...uh, chicken wings with barbecue sauce, Cajun chicken wings, smoked chicken wings, chipotle chicken wings, jerk chicken wings...that - that's about it."

And that’s about it for this look at the Sabres. For the Caps, it’s a chance to do something they haven’t done since the 1999-2000 season (March 11-19, 2000)…sweep a home stand of at least four games. In that season, they swept New Jersey, the Islanders, Caroilina, and Tampa Bay by a combined score of 17-9. The Caps have taken the first three games of this home set against Atlanta, New Jersey, and the Rangers by a combined score of 14-9.

“Four” seems to be a number that pops up from time to time in this review, and that’s what we see the Caps putting up…

Caps 4 – Sabres 2

Edit…I erred in a previous version of this, noting a four-game home stand sweep in January 2000…and it made for such nice copy, too, with the big finish it heralded for that year. Rats…sorry about that.