WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals explosive offense seems to be rounding into form, and on Friday theyll try to finish their longest homestand of the season on a positive note against a Buffalo Sabres squad inching toward the .500 mark.Alexander Ovechkin had his 16th career hat trick in a 4-3 win over the St, Louis Blues on Wednesday, but all parties agreed that it was Evgeny Kuznetsov that helped make a big difference for the Capitals offense.I hope hes back on his game and he has the confidence, Ovechkin said of his fellow countryman. It helps us when he plays well.Kuznetsov had gotten off to a slow start this season, but his goal and assist against the Blues gave him his second multi-point game of the year, and the 24-year-olds skill in the offensive zone will help bst Washingtons offensive attack. Kuznetsov now has three goals this season after leading Washington with 20 tallies last year.I thought (Kuznetsov) was dynamic -- he was really skating, Capitals coach Barry Trotz said after Washingtons win. That was the (Kuznetsov) that we all see that he can be. Hes been getting better and better. You can see he was going to have a breakout sner or later as long as he stayed with the program, and he has.The Sabres are coming off a hard-fought, 2-1 shtout loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, but got some gd news in the return of center Ryan OReilly, who rejoined the teams top line. He played 22:48 in his return, but may have also showed some rust after missing five games due to an oblique injury.I think at time he was a little extended in his energy level, Sabres coach Dan Bylsma told NHL.com after Wednesdays loss. Hes a great player, but he extended himself in a couple shifts and got stuck out there in the second, one of those long shifts and then the overtime he got stuck out again.The Sabres (7-8-5) have stressed getting back to even on the season, and will have another crack at it against the Capitals, who have been one of the top home teams this season at 7-3-0.It is a big goal of ours to get back to that .500 mark, but you come out and have a gd effort against Washington and you consider it a really gd week, Sabres captain Brian Gionta told reporters after Wednesdays game.Buffalos goalies, Robin Lehner and Anders Nilsson, have combined for a .930 save percentage, gd enough for second in the league. Washington netminder Braden Holtby has posted a 9-3-2 mark in his last 14 games dating back to last season, but said that its important that the Capitals play the full 60 minutes after giving up a couple of late goals against the Blues.The frustrating thing is that weve done it a few times this year, he said. Once it happens a few times, it becomes a habit. We have to address it and clamp down in third periods. Cheap Carl Yastrzemski Jersey . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. rmmate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Cheap Johnny Pesky Jersey . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-jim-rice-jersey . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Cheap Red Sox Jerseys . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Cheap Ted Williams Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a grve just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Coach Shane Flanagan has identified stopping rampaging North Queensland back-rower Jason Taumalolo as key to Cronullas chances of progressing to the NRL grand final.The Sharks recognise that the defensive disruption caused by Taumololos bullocking charges so often gives master playmaker Johnathan Thurston added space to work his magic for the defending champions.If they can blunt Taumololo in Friday nights preliminary final at Allianz Stadium they will go a long way to advancing to their first premiership decider in a unified competition in almost 40 years.But thats no small task with Taumololo coming off his man of the match performance in the epic semi-final win over Brisbane and being named the NRLs best player in 2016 as voted on by his peers.He is playing some great fty, Flanagan said at the Sharks captains run on Thursday.We need to get up on him, we need to cut his time down so he is not coming at us, we are going at him.But that is a challenge in itself, the play the ball before cant be quick and we cant be sitting on our heels.He is a big man coming at you with speed and ftwork. You need to be going at him rather than have him coming at you.Veteran Sharks skipper Paul Gallen , who will return from a back injury on Friday, has been mentioned as the player responsible for stopping his opposing lock Taumalolo. But Flanagan insisted it needed to be a team effort.It is everyones job, he said.He will carry the ball in the middle and carry it towards our edges sometimes. It is up to our whole forward pack to stop him.Sharks forwards Sam Tagataese and Joseph Paulo did not take part in the captains run and will miss the clash as their recoveries from respective shoulder and knee injuries continue.If the Sharks make the grand final, Flanagan said Tagataese and Paulo would be available.Cowboys co-captain Thurston hhas recovered from the illness he tk into the win over Brisbane and centre Kane Linnett returns from a hamstring injury.ddddddddddddLinnets return Javid Bowen to the wing and pushes Kalyn Ponga out of the visitors side.Cowboys coach Paul Greens major concern is how his players have recovered from their extra-time win over Brisbane as they face a Sharks team that earned an extra weeks rest.I think its probably more physical, mentally the boys are gd, Green said in Sydney on Thursday.Theyre excited about playing this time of year but no doubt Friday nights game, it was 90 minutes and pretty epic, it tk a fair it out of them.We wont really know how theyve responded until we get to the game. At this point in time weve managed the week really well and the boys are feeling pretty gd at this stage.Flanagan backed out-of-sorts halfback Chad Townsend to bounce back from being substituted in the qualifying win over Canberra.KEY STATS* The Sharks have struggled with the Cowboys in the past six seasons, winning just five of 14 matches since 2011, although three of those wins have come in the past five games.* The Cowboys make more metres than any other team in the competition (1524 per game), while conceding the third fewest (1365 per game).The Sharks make the third most metres (1494 per game) and concede the fewest (1316 per game).* The Sharks have an unhappy record in grand final qualifiers, winning just one of nine since making the 1978 grand final, the 1997 Super League preliminary final against Canberra.* The Cowboys have a horrible finals record at Allianz Stadium. They won their first final there in 2005 (24-16 v Storm) but have gone on to lose their next five.Source: Fox Sports Stats ' ' '