Caps Game Day – 7 p.m. vs. Buffalo

Relatively uneventful morning skate here at Kettler Iceplex as the Capitals prepare to face the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. Check out our game preview here as they attempt to exact some revenge for two ugly losses to the Sabres already this season. Tomas Vokoun was the first goalie off the ice by a wide margin and Washington coach Dale Hunter later confirmed he will start. Michal Neuvirth came off before the scratches’ skate ended for a team meeting. Hunter wasn’t ready to name Neuvirth the starter against the Columbus Blue Jackets – yet. But that obviously would make the most sense on back-to-back nights.    

On the ice for extra work: Defensemen Jeff Schultz and Mike Green, still progressing from his right groin injury, and forward Mathieu Perreault. Expect the defense pairings to be Alzner-Carlson, Hamrlik-Wideman and Erskine-Orlov. The forward lines should also look the same as Wednesday’s game against the Rangers with Jay Beagle again in the lineup after his return from a lengthy stay on the injured list thanks to a concussion.