Caps play a ball buster in Detroit on Monday night, while the Sabres will be battling the Bolts. Jets will be idle.
Time to make a move, Buffalo!
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Updated 9:27pm EDT:
Pat Kane and his Chicago Blackhawks have done the Buffalo Sabres a huge solid by pasting the Washington, 5-2, in the Windy City. Kane, Stralman, Shaw (2), and Bickell scored for the winners.
The Blackhawks blitzed the Capitals, and at one point they led the shot count 12-0 in the first period. The Caps didn't record their first shot of the game until the 16 minute mark of the first period. Not much of a sense of urgency for Ovechkin and his team mates.
Dale Hunter is none-too-happy with his team's sleep walking routine in period one.
thanks, capitals.com
Alex Ovechkin rationalizes his team's poor performance in Chicago.
thanks, capitals.com
The eighth place Capitals are in the clubhouse with 78 points. The Winnipeg Jets are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes as we speak.
When the Sabres win in Tampa on Monday night, they will draw even with Washington, who will have their hockey mitts full of Detroit Red Wings.
I'm saying it now:
Sabres will beat Tampa on Monday night, while Caps will lose to Red Wings. Jets will be idle on Monday night.
For what its worth, Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick of the NBC Sports Network both agree that Buffalo will earn the eighth seed while Washington and Winnipeg miss the playoffs.
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Lindy Ruff put a fine point on the pencil on Sunday in Tampa. When asked what his over riding emotion is for the final ten games of this season, Ruff gruffly answered:
"Win ten of 'em".
The coach is imploring his team to put their best ten games together in order to fend off the Caps and Jets for the eighth and final playoff position.
With ten games remaining in the regular season, Ruff is demanding a dominant performance from his squad in each of its remaining games.
Ruff's still chafed at the fact that his team left to critical points on the table in its past two games. The Colorado meltdown is still on the top of the coach's mind, as is the shootout loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.
Ruff says that he needs difference makers right now.
He's seen far too many excellent scoring chances, and odd-man rushes go unrealized. Players are being paid for finishing chances, not getting chances.
thanks, sabres.com
The final ten game segment begins in Tampa on Monday night. Stamkos and the Bolts have lost 5 out of their last 6 games and their playoff hopes are now dead. Guy Boucher would love to play the villain role and spoil the stretch run for Buffalo, Washington, and Winnipeg.
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