Capitals Tie Sabres

Oleg Saprykin and David Vyborny scored two points each to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-4 tie against the Buffalo Sabres on Day 38. The result moves Washington to 8-9-3 for the season.

Buffalo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period behind Hagos and Spezza. Asahm and Leclair assisted on Hagos' marker at 6:01, while Kovalchuk and Parrish setup Spezza just 57 seconds later.

The Caps finally got on the board early in the second period. Mark Eaton was the scorer from Zigmund Palffy at 0:06. Spezza put the Sabres back up by two shortly thereafter when he netted from Parrish and Vaananen at 1:21. Washington fought back to make it 3-2 with a power play goal from Frantisek Lukes. Todd Warriner and Dan Boyle created the goal at 4:56. The Capitals tied the game on Bryan Berard's second of the season from Saprykin and Vyborny at 11:07.

Buffalo took the lead gain early in the final period. Ryn lit the lamp from Spezza and Melicher at 4:25, but once again the Caps rallied. This time it was Vyborny converting on the power play from Saprykin at 8:26.

Manny Legace stopped 24 shots in the tie and moved to 4-6-3. Rick Dipietro made 30 saves for the Sabres.

The Capitals return to action on Day 40 in Montreal.