Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65), from Austria, celebrates after his goal in the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Washington.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press
Andre Burakovsky scored in the first period, and Braden Holtby and Pheonix Copley combined for a shutout in the Washington Capitals' 1-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Washington coach Barry Trotz won in his first game with the team. He mixed veterans — including Holtby and Alex Ovechkin — with prospects, while Buffalo's Ted Nolan used a relatively inexperienced lineup.
Copley stopped six shots in the first period, and Holtby made 19 saves over the final 40 minutes. Nathan Lieuwen made 24 saves for the Sabres.
Burakovsky scored with 6:46 left in the third. The 2013 first-round pick took a pass from Jason Chimera in the right circle and beat Lieuwen.