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Semin, Caps visit Sabres in western New York

Nov 13, 2010 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Capitals learned with last year's first-round playoff exit that they can't rely on Alex Ovechkin to produce all the goals. Countryman Alexander Semin is certainly providing a second scoring option.

Washington's Russian duo will try to lead their club to a seventh straight victory this evening when they visit HSBC Arena and the Buffalo Sabres, who are expected to have netminder Ryan Miller back for this game.

Despite capturing the Presidents' Trophy with a 121-point season and taking a 3-1 series lead over the Canadiens in last season's opening round of the playoffs, the Capitals saw their season end after Montreal won the next three games by holding Washington to just one goal in each game.

Ovechkin had five goals and 10 points in that series and once again is Washington's top point producer with 23 so far this year. However, he is second on the club in goals with nine, three back of Semin.

Semin picked up his second hat trick in nine games and fifth of his career on Thursday in a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The forward added two assists to match a career high with five points and has seven goals and six helpers over a seven-game point streak.

"We'll ride this streak as long as it goes," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau. "A lot of that has been Semin cause everything he's touching is turning to gold."

Ovechkin added a goal and two assists and Nicklas Backstrom set up four goals. Ovechkin has five goals and 10 helpers over an eight-game point streak.

Michal Neuvirth stopped 38 shots in the win for the Capitals, who are on their longest winning streak since a 14-game run from Jan. 13-Feb. 7. Though Washington has won five in a row at home, it is just 4-3-0 on the road this year.

Given the run that Semin and Ovechkin are on, the Sabres figure to face a stiff challenge as they go for their first home win of 2010-11. Buffalo is 0-6-1 as the host thus far and just 2-4-2 over its last eight games overall.

The Sabres did just wrap a three-game road trip 2-0-1 and all three games went past regulation. After a pair of shootout wins, the club was dealt a 3-2 overtime setback by the New York Rangers on Thursday.

Tyler Ennis and Mike Grier scored for Buffalo and Jhonas Enroth allowed three goals on 28 shots in the loss.

"Overall, I think we generated some good chances and did some good things offensively, and we need to build off of that," said Buffalo's Thomas Vanek.

Buffalo should get a boost with the return of Miller. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner hasn't played since Oct. 29, missing the last six games due to a knee injury, but practiced on Friday and should get the start tonight.

Also, Craig Rivet missed his second straight game on Thursday due to flu-like symptoms, while Drew Stafford has sat out the last three with a shoulder ailment.

Washington won three of four over the Sabres last year and has taken five of the last seven meetings overall. However, the Caps have dropped eight of their last 11 in Buffalo.

While Ovechkin has 13 goals and 22 points in 19 career games versus the Sabres, Semin has scored just once with four points in 13 games when facing them.