Injured Sabres dominate Capitals 5-1

With nine regulars out of the lineup and the sting of Friday’s loss to Columbus still fresh in their minds, it wouldn’t have been inconceivable to think the Buffalo Sabres could be in for a long night against the Washington Capitals. But a trio of rookies provided just the spark they needed to handily defeat the listless Capitals 5-1 at First Niagara Center.

Luke Adam scored twice and Zack Kassian picked up his first career NHL goal to lead the way for Buffalo. Defenseman Brayden McNabb, recalled earlier in the day to replace the injured Robyn Regehr, skated 13:42 of ice time and chipped in a game-high six hits.

Adam and Jason Pominville staked Buffalo to a first period lead, then the Capitals cut that in half with a penalty shot goal by Jason Chimera 6:39 into the second. But rather than fritter away another two-goal lead, Kassian responded just 27 seconds later when he drove down the right side and fired a shot between the pads of Washington netminder Tomas Vokoun. It was a deflating goal that the Caps never recovered from.

“Obviously, anytime another team scores a goal you want to respond with either a good shift or maybe a goal or a hit or something like that,” said Kassian. “It worked out well. We just tried to throw it on net for a rebound off the pad with the middle lane driving. Lucky for me it snuck through the five-hole and it went in. It was a nice burden to get off my back and now I can focus on playing.

Lindy Ruff agreed that Kassian’s goal took the wind out of Washington’s sails for the rest of the night.

“I thought [the Kassian goal] was really a momentum killer for them. That could have taken them a long ways the other direction. I thought us answering right away put out a little of their drive.”

Playing in his second NHL game, Kassian also provided a big physical presence tonight with five hits. A glass-rattling check on Jeff Schultz early in the game seemed to set his tone for the night.

“It’s important. Part of Zack’s game has to be physical,” said Ruff. “Combined with the skill he’s got, [his physical game] should be a great weapon.”

Paul Szczechura, also recalled from Rochester today, assisted on both of Adam’s goals. Jochen Hecht scored his first goal of the year on a shorthanded breakway late in the third period to cap the Buffalo scoring. It was Hecht’s first goal since March 12 of last season in Toronto.

Washington superstar Alex Ovechkin was a non-factor in the game, finishing minus-4 and taking just two shots.