BUFFALO, N.Y. — Its always a raucous atmosphere when the Sabres played the Caps in Washington. It will be crazier than usual when the teams face off Friday night in the Capital One Arena. That's because the Washington Nationals won the first World Series championship in franchise history on Wednesday night in Houston, upsetting the Astros.
Two Caps players told Washington Post reporter Samantha Pell that seeing the Nationals win the World Series is inspiration for them to win another Stanley Cup.
For the first time ever in a playoff series the road team won all seven games. That's never happened before in MLB, the NHL or the NBA.
Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said, "I think on the road it's easier to stick to fundamentals and to play a team game vs. at home there is a certain pressure that evolves in tight games. Probably like the World Series yesterday, where guys start trying too hard and when the team's not functioning they fall back to individual skill vs. team power, and I think on the road its easier to keep guys in the team main frame."
Forward Jimmy Vesey, who Krueger said earlier this week was "week to week," practiced with the team Thursday at the LECOM Harborcenter. Vesey said he's hoping to play Saturday night against the Islanders but needs to be cleared by the doctor first. He was injured in the Sabres 6-2 loss to the Rangers last Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Defenseman Brandon Montour is also skating with the team. He is expected to return this weekend after suffering a hand injury in September. Krueger said, "Brandon is improving daily. His curve is definitely upwards."
When you play the Capitals you always have to be aware of Alexander Ovechkin. Sabres captain Jack Eichel said, "it's not fun when he's taking a couple of steps and heading in your direction, or he's winding up and you're in his lane. But he's somebody I had posters of on my wall growing up as a kid and I just grew up watching him. Obviously a fan, so its pretty cool to play against him. It's always fun but we have to we're aware of when he's on the ice, and just try and take his time and space away. Get in his shooting lane."
The Sabres are at Washington Friday night and home Saturday night against the New York Islanders.