Sometimes on a road swing, even a team in a groove can run into a buzz saw. Tonight that buzz saw was Ryan Miller. It's hard to fault the Caps too much for finally losing a game in convincing fashion. After all, they've managed to have some sort of lead in all THIRTY games up until tonight, so the dam seemed ready to burst.

Besides the loss, which never feels good, I have to feel pretty good about U.S. Hockey's chances in any game up in Vancouver with Miller in net. The guy's technique and discipline is impeccable, and those two things will win a guy a medal. Anyway, there aren't a ton of happy thoughts about tonight, but there are still some points to hit. By no means am I (nor should anyone) hit the panic button after one loss in what seems like a ton of road games.

• Alex Giroux has earned shame from me in just about every recap since his recall, and with good reason. Tonight he was a minus one, and was caught in the laziest backcheck of all-time on the third Sabres goal. In the words of Mister Irrelevent (and to fellow underachieving Canadian Shaun Suisham earlier this week): Pack shit, get out.
• Again, Ryan Miller was unreal, but the Caps were very sporadic with the pressure. His only major gaffe was leaving a wide-open net for Ovechkin early in the second period (I think?). I didn't think I'd ever hate facing the Sabres as much as I did when Hasek was manning the pipes. I think I was wrong.
  
• Unfortunately, while Ovechkin's shooting percentage has been pretty solid this season, he wasn't getting pucks on net tonight. On a good night, he probably could have potted two.
• If Tyler Sloan keeps taking a minor in every game, he can go ahead and follow the Suisham/Giroux model when Lainger is back from his broken jaw. Speaking of his poor play, what the hell was he doing on the first goal?
  
• Brendan Morrison probably should have had two of his own, but Ryan Miller pooped on him both times.
• Jeff Schultz had a solid, very Schultzian kind of night.
• Jose Theodore wasn't terrible, but he wasn't at his sharpest either. Goal two required a tighter squeeze, and goal three was caused by a terrible rebound that Theo left out in the slot.
• The Caps had zero power plays during the final 55 minutes of the game. I understand that they played a little sluggish, and might not have drawn a ton, but come onnnnnn.
• Milan Jurcina...woof.

Kudos Go To:

Brendan Morrison. The guy didn't stop all night and he had the best chances of any player. Too bad Ryan Miller was unreal.

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