The Buffalo Sabres faced off against the Washington Capitals with the Sabres in search of their first home win of the season . The Caps took the lead with a Karl Alzner slap shot from Alexander Semin that beat Ryan Miller. In the second period the Sabres notched it up at one with a slap shot from Steve Montador.
Six and a half minutes later in the 2nd period Vanek got his fifth goal of the season. The goal came on the power play with assists from Jordan Leopold and Tim Connolly. The Caps fought back and tied the game up just seven minutes into the period with a wrister from Nicklas Backstrom assisted from Jason Chimera and John Erskine.
The Sabres didn’t have to take the game to a shootout as they did against the Leafs and the Devils as the Sabres ended it with exactly one minute remaining in extra time as Vanek tallied his second of the night. Vanek dangled the puck in over the blueline around the defenseman with ease as he easily walked in and used a nice back hander to bury the game at 3-2.
The Sabres finished the road trip 2-0-1 and became the last team in the league to record a win at home. The Sabres held Alexander Ovechkin to only 1 shot and no points which snapped his 8 game point streak.
Miller held his own by stopping 23 of the 25 shots taken to getting his first win back from having a hip injury. Vaneks two goals and Leopolds three assists topped the night in the point department. The Sabres next game comes on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks.