It took goaltender Vitek Vanecek five years to make it to the National Hockey League. He made his first start count by turning away 30 of 31 shots to lead the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres Friday night.
“I think it was a good game, the dream came true and I’m so happy we won,” Vanecek said in his postgame video call with reporters.
“He was awesome. He was our best player tonight,” said defenseman Brenden Dillion. “We kind of left him out to dry there in the first two periods and then finally buckled down for him in the third but a fantastic game, I’m really happy for him.”
The win moves Washington to 2-0 on the young season. The Caps head to Pittsburgh for a game against the Penguins Sunday at noon.
The defense was much better than the opening night showing. The Capitals successfully killed off five Buffalo power plays and got goals from Jakob Vrana in the second period and Tom Wilson in the third.
Offensively, the Caps looked a little sluggish compared to Thursday night but the rookie goaltender made sure the team left upstate New York with four points in two games.
While the Capitals were outshot 31-21, they made their shots count. Tom Wilson was the star offensively with his 3rd-period goal as well as an assist on Vrana’s score.
Vanecek was seen on his postgame video conference with a face full of shaving cream, a celebratory postgame gift from team veterans; all of whom credited the 25-year-old with being the difference in the game.
“Really solid. I’m so impressed with how he handled everything,” said Nicklas Backstrom. “I think Buffalo played way better than us, Buffalo really attacked him. I think he won the game for us.”
“He was really good,” said head coach Peter Laviolette. “I thought We were slow out of the gate, the first period for sure the second period wasn’t much better. I think we finally got going in the third period and played a good period to win a hockey game. But when we weren’t very sharp, I thought he was really sharp and gave us an opportunity.”
Sunday’s match up with Pittsburgh marks the first time the Caps will see former head coach Todd Reirden. The Capitals fired Reirden after last year’s first-round playoff exit against the New York Islanders.
The game also marks the first of eight games this season between two of the most bitter rivals in the league.