BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Washington Capitals will look for their third win over Buffalo in two weeks when they take on the Sabres on Friday night.The Capitals have suffered from inconsistent play in recent games, even in victories. After surrendering a 3-0 lead on Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, Washington survived with a 4-3 overtime victory. The players still held a players-only meeting after the game.We had a little talk in here and theres some things weve got to clean up, said forward T.J. Oshie, who returned against Boston after missing seven games with a shoulder injury. I think its more of mentality than it is any systems or anything like that. Once we get a step up on somebody, weve got to get that mentality that were going to finish them off.The Capitals havent had many problems against the Sabres in recent weeks, however. Washington picked up a 3-1 win over Buffalo on Nov. 25 and a 3-2 overtime over Buffalo on Dec. 5. In their most recent game, the Capitals came back from a late 3-2 deficit before winning in overtime. Marcus Johansson had both the game-tying goal and the game-winner in the victory.Nicklas Backstrom had the game-winner in overtime against Boston on Tuesday. Backstrom leads the team with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 25 games. Captain Alex Ovechkin isnt far behind with 19 points (12 goals, seven assists) in 25 games.Goaltending has been a major strength for the Capitals this season. Starter Braden Holtby has a .923 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average, and backup Philipp Grubauer has a .936 save percentage and a 1.80 goals against average. Each has a win over Buffalo this season.The Sabres are hoping to be much healthier along the blue line opening the season plagued by injuries. Buffalo has been without three key defensemen for a significant period of time -- Dmitry Kulikov (lower back), Josh Gorges (foot) and Zach Bogosian (knee sprain) -- and both Kulikov and Gorges have a chance of returning against the Capitals.I feel like I could (play), Gorges said, according to the teams website. I guess well reevaluate things today and tomorrow morning, talk to doctors and the medical staff and get a better idea of whether thats possible or not.The Sabres sent defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer back to the AHLs Rochester Americans on Thursday with their blue line getting healthier. Its expected that youngster Brendan Guhle will return to his junior team after being promoted on an emergency basis.Guhle, 19, has impressed in his limited time with the big club.I dont know what I totally expected given the circumstances, given who he was playing against, Sabres head coach Bylsma said, according to the teams website. You kind of look to see how anyones going to do against (Alex) Ovechkin, against (Connor) McDavids speed, and he did a pretty good job of it, a pretty remarkable job for a young kid to step in.The Sabres are coming off a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had the game-winner on his first goal of the year. Cheap New Jersey Devils Jerseys . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. Cheap Devils Jerseys Authentic .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.cheapdevilsjerseys.com/ . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Cheap Adidas Devils Jerseys .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Thanks to third-ranked Louisvilles 63-20 demolition of Florida State on Saturday, many college football followers already have the Cardinals Oct. 1 date at No. 5 Clemson circled as a potential elimination game for one of the four College Football Playoff spots.However, Dabo Swinneys Tigers still have one big obstacle before entering that contest undefeated.Georgia Tech.Dont laugh. Sure, the Yellow Jackets (3-0) are just midway down in the Others Receiving Votes section of this weeks Associated Press Top 25 poll despite an impressive 38-7 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. And Clemson (3-0), the national runner-up to Alabama a year ago, opened as a 11-point favorite for the nationally televised Thursday night contest.But Bobby Dodd Stadium has not been too kind recently for the Tigers, who havent defeated Georgia Tech in Atlanta since 2003, or star quarterback Deshaun Watson, who sustained a knee injury playing there his freshman season.Weve got a tough task ahead with an undefeated Georgia Tech team in Atlanta, Swinney said. But were looking forward to it.Clemson is 3-0 for the third time in four years, while Georgia Tech already matched its win total from a year ago when it finished 3-9, but both teams are relatively unknown quantities.The Tigers were unimpressive in victories against unranked Auburn (19-13) and Troy (30-24) to open the season, then learned precious little about themselves in a 59-0 demolition of South Carolina State last week.Georgia Tech carved its 3-0 start out of victories against unheralded Boston College, Mercer and Vanderbilt.Watson is looking forward to taking his team to Tech again, despite rekindling the memory of the 2014 injury. He partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament early in the game, though he wasnt even hit on the play.The Tigers went on to lose 28-6, their most recent regular-season defeat.It was just one of those weird things that kind of happen, Watson said. I have flashbacks about that play. Of course, its going to pop up in my mind, but it wont be anything too serious.To a man, Clemsons players say they are not looking past Georgia Tech and toward the potential showdown with Louisville -- an approach that should be expected given the Tiigers five consecutive defeats at the hands of the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta.dddddddddddd.Yet the Tigers are dont lack confidence.If we do our job and play Clemson ball, everything should take care of itself, Watson said.The contest will serve as a measuring stick for the Yellow Jackets. Through three games, the Georgia Tech offense has started to look more like its old self. The option has been effective and the drives have been long and sustained. But the question remains: How good are the Yellow Jackets really?That will be answered this week. If Georgia Tech can move the ball effectively against the Tigers, it could have something special.Weve gotten better each game, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. Well have to get way better because this is the best team weve played by a mile.Georgia Tech is averaging 397.7 yards per game, 257.3 of that on the ground. But the Clemson defense ranks eighth in the nation in total defense (250 yards per game) and gives up just 92 yards rushing.Johnson said his teams offense is better than it showed in 2015 but hasnt yet approached the high standards set in 2014. He added, I think we have the potential to get where we were in 14.That is possible if quarterback Justin Thomas continues to play as he did in the win over the Commodores. Thomas threw for 136 yards and one touchdown and rushed 11 times for 84 yards.We still have some issues, but from Game One to this point, were night-and-day a lot better, Thomas said. People are communicating more, coming off the ball better and as a whole were starting to click. Got to keep getting better each week and not have any setbacks.Thomas has been around long enough to know that Clemson will provide a reality check. This will be his third start against the Tigers -- he led Tech to the victory in 2014, but got pummeled 43-24 last year at Death Valley, rushing 14 times for 3 yards. He also threw for 159 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted once and sacked twice. That was Georgia Techs low point for the season.Its going to be a huge week, Thomas said. Weve got to dial it in. ' ' '