Sabres host the Capitals on 12-30-08

The last time the Caps visited HSBC Arena they were shut out by Buffalo 5-0 on the strength of two Thomas Vanek goals and some solid goaltending by Ryan Miller. The team played a complete, solid game in all three zones. It seems that it was shortly after this win that the Sabres' troubles started to creep in. These pics were taken that night, when all was still right with Buffalo, and their hot start was, seemingly, still in full swing.

Of course one enormous detail from that night on Nov 1 was that Alexander Ovechkin was absent, away visiting his ailing grandfather in Russia.

The Sabres did make one visit to D.C. since that win in Buffalo, on Friday Dec. 26. It was a game in which they never held the lead, but did threaten to tie it by applying a lot of pressure late but never got that decisive goal. The game featured a highlight reel goal by Ovechkin which was quickly answered by Buffalo on a goal by Maxim Afinogenov, only his second of the year. The Caps held on to win, and Buffalo left the nation's capital pointless, even after putting together a decent road game.

Here's hoping that the shift back to HSBC will see the Sabres back to their early November winning ways.