BUFFALO, N.Y. – Taylor Pyatt recorded his second career hat trick, and Brian Campbell had two goals to help the Buffalo Sabres to a 8-5 win over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night.

Ales Kotalik, Dmitri Kalinin and Tim Connolly also scored for the Sabres, who won their third straight at home and second overall.

Rookie standout Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and an assist, and Chris Clark, Andrew Cassels, Brian Sutherby and Ben Clymer also scored for the Capitals, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

Washington fell to 1-8 on the road.

Buffalo scored on its first shot 37 seconds in as Campbell beat Brent Johnson with a shot that went between the goalie’s legs.

After Clark tied it at 4:06 of the first, Buffalo broke the game open. The Sabres scored five consecutive goals in a nearly 14-minute span that bridged the first and second periods to make it 6-1.

The Capitals came back strong, scoring three straight goals in the final nine minutes of the second, including Sutherby’s short-handed tally and Ovechkin’s power-play goal with 55 seconds remaining.

Washington had several chances to tie it in the third. Clark and Bryan Muir both hit goal posts with drives before Pyatt scored his third of the game and season with 31/2 minutes to go to make it 7-4.

Ovechkin leads NHL rookies with 15 goals, and has scored in five of his last six games.

Buffalo had a seven-minute power play in the second period when Washington’s Brendan Witt was handed 27 minutes in penalties – including a game misconduct – after a brief melee that involved Thomas Vanek. The Sabres were unable to capitalize on the extended opportunity.

Johnson, who came in 5-0 with a 1.38 goals-against average against the Sabres, made 19 saves in his third consecutive start in place of the injured Olaf Kolzig. Kolzig missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring injury.

Buffalo’s Martin Biron finished with 34 saves in his ninth straight start.

Notes: Buffalo RW Maxim Afinogenov missed his fourth game with bruised ribs. … Washington RW Dainius Zubrus missed his second game with a groin injury. … Sabres D Teppo Numminen has five assists in his last four games. … Buffalo has scored a power-play goal in 12 of 13 games. Campbell and Kotalik connected with the man advantage. … Sabres D Toni Lydman earned his 100th career point with as assist on Pyatt’s second goal.

AP-ES-11-17-05 2156EST


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