Backstrom scores twice, Capitals start and finish strong in 5-2 victory over Sabres

Backstrom scores 2 goals, Capitals beat Sabres 5-2

WASHINGTON — Nicklas Backstrom had two goals, Alex Ovechkin added a goal and two assists and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday night in a battle of division leaders.

Mike Green had a goal and an assist, and Brendan Morrison also scored for the Southeast-leading Capitals, who have won nine of 12 games. Washington improved to 11-2-3 at Verizon Center.

Paul Gaustad and Tim Connolly scored for the Northeast-leading Sabres.

Washington pressured Sabres goalie Ryan Miller with a 15-4 edge in shots in the opening period, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Backstrom and Green. The Capitals have scored an NHL-high 47 first-period goals.

Backstrom one-timed a shovel pass from Ovechkin in the left circle 1:18 into the game, and Green’s drive from the right point knuckled off the stick of Buffalo’s Derek Roy and fluttered by Miller at 6:47.

With the teams skating four-a-side early in the second period, Gaustad kept the puck on a 2-on-1 rush and wristed a shot past Michal Neuvirth from the right circle for his seventh goal.

Morrison briefly restored the two-goal cushion at 10:48 of the second on some nifty improvisational play. After overskating a second chance at Tomas Fleischmann’s rebound, Morrison scored on a between-the-legs backhanded flip at the right post.

Just over 2 minutes later, Connolly tipped in Steve Montador’s right-point slapper.

Backstrom made it 4-2 on a two-man advantage with 9:05 remaining in the game after Fleischmann had drawn two minor penalties. Alexander Semin threaded a nice pass through traffic in front of the net and Backstrom cut a tough angle at the right post.

Ovechkin followed with his team-high 24th goal on a power play with 7:50 left on a slap shot from the left circle.

NOTES: Buffalo LW Thomas Vanek missed his third straight game because of an abdominal injury, while C Nathan Gerbe sat out his seventh consecutive game with a groin problem. … Washington was playing only its second home game in 20 days. … Morrison has 10 goals and the Capitals have six players with double-digit goal totals.