The Caps give the Verizon Center crowd a stick salute after beating the Buffalo Sabres 3 - 2 for their first win of the season

Caps defenseman John Erskine celebrates with his teammates after scoring the Caps second goal to put the Caps ahead 2 - 1 at 3:18 of the second period

Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth had 24 saves in the Caps 2 - 1 win over the Sabres

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom talk things over during the pregame warmup

Ovie scored the game winner at 5:11 of the 3rd period Bob Youngentob CSN Washington

Mike Green warms up prior to the Caps Sabres game

Michal Neuvirth stretches prior to the Caps Sabres game

Capitals coach Adam Oates talks things over with Mathieu Perreault during the Caps Sabres game

Nicklas Backstrom fires a shot on Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller

Wojtek Wolski fights for a loose puck in front of the Buffalo net

Mathieu Perreault wins a face off against the Sabres

Alex Ovechkin had his first goal of the season on the power play at 5:11 of the 3rd period clinching the win for the Caps

Joel Ward who scored his 3rd goal of the season at 16:02 of the 1st period screens Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller

Jay Beagle fires a shot at the Buffalo goal

Ovie skates behind the Buffalo goal during 3rd period action vs the Sabres

Mike Ribeiro had his 4th and 5th assists of the season

Mathieu Perreault fights for a loose puck against the Sabres during the 3rd period

Joel Ward looks to pass to a teammate during the Caps win over the Sabres

Alex Ovechkin fights for the puck in front of Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller