WASHINGTON D.C. (November 25) — Semyon Varlamov, the Washington Capitals 21-year-old goaltender, recorded his first regular-season shutout by making 25 saves against the Buffalo Sabres in a 2-0 victory Wednesday night that was completed without the Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin, following a third period ejection for a hard shoulder check called boarding and resulting game misconduct at 3:38.

Defenseman Mike Green (#52) cuts off a pass from Buffalo Sabres’ forward Michael Grier (#25). (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

“You lose the most prolific scorer on the planet Earth, which is tough,” said Capitals’ defenseman Brian Pothier.  “But you have to kill a 5-minute penalty.  As Ovie’s skating off the ice, we’re telling him, ‘We’ve got this one for you.’  He does so much for our team.  Every night, he bails us out.  We could sure do it for him.”

Ovechkin put the Capitals up 1-0 at 6:24 of the first period, his 17^th of the season.  Shots came slowly, both teams playing aggressive, trapping defense.  There were no penalties in the first two periods.

Alex Ovechkin (#8) scores in the first period to put the Capitals up 1-0 over the visiting Buffalo Sabres. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Eric Fehr scored the Capitals’ second goal with 6:22 in regulation, redirecting Brendan Morrison’s centering pass.

Foward Eric Fehr (#16) scores at 6:22 of the third period, sealing the Capital’s 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. (Pete Silver/OffWingPhoto.com)

Prior to the singing of the National Anthem, there was moment of silence in memory of Mr. Abe Pollin, Capitals owner from 1974 to 1999, who used his own money to build Verizon Center and revitalized the Washington D.C. Chinatown area, along with numerous other real estate improvement projects around the District. Pollin died Tuesday at the age of 85 from a rare brain disease.  Funeral services were held Friday and a public memorial service is scheduled on Decemeber 8th at Verizon Center.

Click below for a slideshow of images from Thursday night’s game and more from OffWing Photo.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 21: Goalie Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals looks on as the puck passes by him from Patrick Kaleta of the Buffalo Sabres during a NHL preseason hockey game on September 21, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

After last nights 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres I walked away wanting more, not quite able to put my finger on my feelings. After a few more steps it came to me. The last time I was in Verizon Center it was game 5 of the playoffs with the Penguins.

Right…. it is the preseason. Last night was the the first night that Theodore was in the net. We also got a peak at line that included new comer Mike Knuble with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. After the game coach Bruce Boudreau let us in on a little secret saying, “The first time they practiced it (the power play) was this morning… we’ll start practicing that a lot more.”

So it goes in the preseason, the Caps were 0-for-5 on power plays, including a 5 minute power play over the waning minutes of the first period and the beginning of the second. For Buffalo’s part their win came from a pair of goals that came within 11 seconds of each other in the second period.

There are some good things to report. Hockey season will be quickly upon us and the intensity of the players and fans will amp up.

Enjoy a slide show from Monday night’s game below.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 7: Mike Green of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammate Jeff Schultz following his third period goal against the Florida Panthers during a NHL hockey game on February 7, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

“He’s (Mike Green) pretty good,” said Capital’s Coach Bruce Boudreau. “He even played well defensively today.” Green scored the game winner at the beginning of the third period and then put the game out of reach when he scored an empty-net goal late with just over a minute left in play.

Green continued his hot hand by scoring twice in tonight’s game, now the longest goal streak ever by a Washington defenseman, having now scored goals in his last seven straight games. He scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season.

After tonight’s game the Capitals hold a 13-point lead over Florida in the Southeast Division standings, sitting second in the Eastern Conference.

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 7: Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals stops Ville Peltonen of the Florida Panthers from scoring during a NHL hockey game on February 7, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWing Photo)

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For more photos of game action visit our OffWing Photo flickr gallery.

www.flickr.com   Off Wing Opinion’s 2009.02.07 Washington Capitals vs. Florida Panthers , Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Tomas Fleischmann of the Washington Capitals shoots and scores a goal against goalie Jaroslav Halak of the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals checks Ryan O’Byrne of the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: David Steckel of the Washington Capitals waits for a pass during a NHL hockey game with the Montreal Canadiens on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

www.flickr.com Off Wing Opinion’s 2008.11.28 Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens, Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com photoset

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Tomas Fleischmann of the Washington Capitals brings up the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Goalie Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals makes a save against the Montreal Canadiens during a NHL hockey game on November 28, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Eric Fehr of the Washington Capitals celebrates with teammates following his goal during a NHL hockey game with the Atlanta Thrashers on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals flies over goalie Ondrej Pavelec of the Atlanta Thrashers during a NHL hockey game on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

More photos after the jump.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Fans of the Washington Capitals toss their hats onto the ice following Alex Ovechkin’s Hat Trick against the Atlanta Thrashers during a NHL hockey game on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Ovechkin and Sami Lepisto of the Washington Capitals celebrate following an Ovechkin goal in the first period against the Atlanta Thrashers during a NHL hockey game on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Michael Nylander of the Washington Capitals brings the puck up the ice during a NHL hockey game with the Atlanta Thrashers on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Goalie Jose Theodore of the Washington Capitals falls to the ice following Vyacheslav Kozlov of the Atlanta Thrashers goal during a NHL hockey game on November 26, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Allen Clark/OffWingPhoto.com)