Tuesday June 2 7:30pm
The Washington Capitals can advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in the franchise's 23-year history with a win over the Buffalo Sabres tonight in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals. Olaf Kolzig posted his record-tying fourth playoff shutout and Craig Berube broke a scoreless tie in the third period with his first career postseason goal as Washington blanked Buffalo, 2-0, Saturday.
Kolzig turned aside 30 shots to become the ninth goaltender in playoff history to record four shutouts in one year. Mike Richter of the New York Rangers and Kirk McLean of the Vancouver Canucks were the last to do it in 1994.
After being blanked 2-0 by Dominik Hasek in Game One of the series, the Capitals have roared back to put themselves in this position. But there is still reason for caution, as Washington has blown 3-1 leads in a record three different series.
Meanwhile, the Sabres, who rolled through the first two rounds, must regroup. Hasek allowed a rare bad goal in Game Four and it appears that Buffalo may have lost some steam after overtime losses in Games Two and Three.
If Buffalo wins, it would host Game Six on Thursday. If Washington wins, it awaits the winner of the Detroit-Dallas series, with the Red Wings also owning a 3-1 lead.
