Sabres Edge

WASHINGTON -- The common belief heading into the Sabres' back-to-back games was Patrick Lalime would start in goal once for the Sabres, and it likely would be Saturday against the hapless Islanders. But coach Lindy Ruff likes starting Ryan Miller at home, so Lalime gets the call tonight against the Capitals.

Should be interesting. Alex Ovechkin is a test for any goalie, let alone a team's No. 2 guy. Plus, the Capitals are 13-1-1 at home this year, so Lalime really is going to have to stand on his head.

Unfortunately for people who like goalie meltdowns, Brent Johnson is not starting for the Caps. Jose Theodore will be in goal.

FIRST PERIOD

7:11 p.m: I was talking with some family members on Christmas Eve about who the best player in the NHL was, and I said I'd shifted from Ovechkin to Evgeni Malkin. We're three minutes into the game, and I'm changing back to Ovechkin. Drew a penalty and created about four scoring chances already. He's the man.

7:16 p.m.: Two days off hasn't affected the teams. Fast-paced, nearly whistle-free hockey with 12:28 left.

7:23 p.m.: Standing ovation for Sgt. Lonnie Fullen in a salute to the troops.

7:28 p.m.: Sabres' penalty killers, who had given up two straight goals while one man down, have killed two already. They looked good doing it, as Roy and Pominville created short-handed scoring chances. Lalime is looking good, too, as the Caps have 12 shots with 5:40 left. It seems like Ovechkin has 10 of them.

SECOND PERIOD

8:03 p.m.: You'd think this would be the last place I'd have Internet problems, since Caps owner Ted Leonsis used to run AOL. But I've been without for a while (strangely, others around me were doing OK). Anyway, there's 14:40 left and still no score.

8:15 p.m.: They keep showing a guy in a Thomas Vanek Sabres jersey with a C on the shoulder. I missed when he was captain, I guess.

8:20 p.m.: Possible bad news as Vanek blocks shot and has to crawl to the bench. He went straight down the hallway to the dressing room with the help of trainers.

8:27 p.m.: Viktor Kozlov gives Caps a 1-0 lead with a slap shot with 2:14 to play.

8:32 p.m.: End of two, Caps have 1-0 lead.

THIRD PERIOD

8:55 p.m.: Capitals take a 2-0 lead with 1:58 gone when Boyd Gordon tips Milan Jurcina's shot from point. (Donald Brashear given credit for goal, but that will change upon review.)

8:58 p.m.: Vanek is back. He just scored on power play with 13:47 to go.

9:05 p.m.: "MVP, MVP" chant is echoing, as Ovechkin proves he's the best player on the planet with highlight reel goal with 11:33 to go. It's 3-1 Capitals.

9:21 p.m.: Maxim Afinogenov, yes, Maxim Afinogenov scores with 1:49 to go to make it 3-2.

9:23 p.m.: It's over, 3-2 Caps.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Ovechkin: "You always want to do some crazy things. It was a great goal, and I'm happy it happened to me."

Ruff on center Jochen Hecht, who lost 11 of 17 faceoffs, including one that led to the Capitals' second goal: "It was Jochen's job to make sure he took care of his man and didn't. That hurt us the most. Jochen's got to do a better job on faceoffs. That's not good enough. I think he lost like seven in a row in the third period, and one of them cost us a goal."

Lydman on the Sabres' three-game winless streak (0-1-2), which has featured three straight one-goal setbacks: "The good news is we're playing better and we're battling a lot more. You just have to believe it will turn around for us."

---John Vogl