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Welcome to Caps 'Round the Clock, a blog covering the Washington Capitals and the NHL. In season, I update the Blog after every practice and on game day with Caps news and information, and then provide a recap and analysis after each contest. I also write a periodical Prospect Watch and weekly feature pieces on the state of the Men in Red and other things Capitals. And of course, I will post videos and tidbits from around the League and offer my two cents as the season wears on. In the offseason, I write a Report Card for each player, and will keep you updated on all the news about the Caps through the summer. I'm glad you're here, and hope you come back!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Gameday: vs. Buffalo, Apr. 2

The Caps will go for their second win in a row tonight.
The Washington Capitals will welcome the Buffalo Sabres to Verizon Center this evening as they look to built off their win over the Blue Jackets on Thursday night.  The Capitals come into tonight's game with 101 points in 78 games, which places them first in the Southeast Division and second in the Eastern Conference, only one point behind the Flyers.  The Sabres, on the other hand, have 87 points in 77 games, which places them third in the Northeast Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference; they beat the Rangers their last time out by a final score of 1-0.  This will be the fourth and final regular season meeting between these two teams.

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff will start Jhonas Enroth in goal for his team, as regular star netminder Ryan Miller is out with an upper-body injury.  Enroth shut out the Rangers in his last start, and has six wins, a 2.45 GAA, .915 Save%, and the one shutout in nine games this year.  On the injury front, the Sabres will be without three regulars tonight: forward Derek Roy, who is out with leg surgery; defenseman Jordan Leopold, who has a broken hand; and forward Jochen Hecht, who is out with an upper-body injury.  Regardless, the Sabres have been on top of their game recently and are a desperate team.  The Caps would be wise to not take them lightly.

Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the call in nets from Bruce Boureau, coming off his 20-save performance Thursday.  On the season, Neuvirth has won 25 games to go along with a 2.47 GAA, .914 Save%, and four shutouts in 45 games. Outside of the crease, the Capitals will be without three defenders tonight, as Dennis Wideman (hematoma), Mike Green (concussion), and Tom Poti (groin) are all sidelined with injuries.  John Erskine, who is suffering from an undisclosed injury, is considered questionable for tonight's game, though no official call-up from Hershey has been made as of now.  DJ King is expected to be a healthy scratch on the front end for DC, and it is likely that he will be joined in the press box by Marco Sturm, although Eric Fehr or Jason Chimera could also be scratched.

Puck drops for this one 7:08-ish.  And for injury updates on all your Capitals, check out yesterday's practice updates.

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